A man accused of intentionally causing a crash that killed one woman and seriously injured another has been charged with murder, according to Marietta police.

Michael David Lauray, 31, had threatened, both verbally and through text messages, to kill a woman he knew after an argument, according to police. But when he caused a deadly crash Aug. 31, he killed the woman’s passenger, police said.

“Said accused, while operating a black 2019 Chevrolet Trax bearing GA tag CKX7291, did operate with disregard for the safety of persons and property so as to cause a multi-vehicle crash,” Lauray’s arrest warrant states.

The crash happened around 6:30 a.m. on Powder Springs Street near South Marietta Parkway, according to police.

Investigators believe Lauray intentionally struck a 1994 Toyota Corolla that two women were traveling in, pushing the car into the path of a 2013 Kia Optima. A passenger in the Corolla, 24-year-old Alexus Hickling, was killed in the crash. The woman Lauray threatened to kill was critically injured, according to police.

The woman driving the Optima had minor injuries, according to police.

Lauray then left the crash scene without calling 911, but later returned, police said. He was not injured in the crash. In an initial interview with officers, Lauray gave false information, his warrant states.

On Monday, he was arrested on multiple charges, including malice murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, battery, making terroristic threats, hit-and-run, false statements, and reckless driving, his warrant states. He was booked into the Cobb County jail, where he was being held without bond Wednesday.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Cox Enterprises CEO Alex Taylor and AJC Publisher Andrew Morse were joined by AJC editors and Atlanta business react during the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in Midtown on Friday, January 24, 2025.
(Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Featured

Austin Walters died from an overdose in 2021 after taking a Xanax pill laced with fentanyl, his father said. A new law named after Austin and aimed at preventing deaths from fentanyl has resulted in its first convictions in Georgia, prosecutors said. (Family photo)

Credit: Family photo