Ex-con in DeKalb indicted on vehicular homicide charges

Prosecutors say a DeKalb County convicted felon killed a Lithonia woman and her granddaughter while fleeing police in a chase.

Jeremiah Maurice Warthen is charged with four counts of first-degree vehicular homicide, multiple counts of serious injury by vehicle, reckless driving, fleeing a police officer, aggravated assault on a police officer, cocaine trafficking and driving on a suspended license.

Alicia Moxley, 57, and her 3-year-old granddaughter Jordan Haynes were killed and another adult and three children were injured when Warthen allegedly struck their sedan as he tried to elude police, prosecutors claim.

On the evening of Feb. 20, police attempted a routine traffic stop near Decatur, and the 27-year-old Warthen rammed the police patrol car with his SUV, authorities said.

He then hit Moxley’s vehicle, according to police.

Police found more than 28 grams of cocaine in Warthen’s car when he was arrested, prosecutors said.

Warthen had pleaded guilty in 2003 to aggravated assault, pimping, and obstructing police charges, and to 2008 marijuana possession charges.

He remains in the DeKalb County jail without bond.