UPDATE: The story has been updated to include the arraignment date for Madrina McCay.
A Chatham County Superior Court judge has denied bond for Madrina McCay, the mother indicted for first-degree vehicular homicide and driving under the influence in connection with the car crash that killed her 12-year-old son last year.
Chief Judge Penny Haas Freesemann issued the order on Friday, deeming McCay a potential danger to the community, to reoffend and to fail to appear in court at a later date.
An arraignment date for McCay is set for March 9 at 10:30 a.m. according to the Chatham County Court.
McCay is accused of being impaired on the morning of Aug. 23, 2021 when she crashed her car into a tree along Johnny Mercer Boulevard on Wilmington Island. The accident resulted in the death of her son, Logan, who was sitting in the passenger seat of the vehicle.
Credit: Dennis Knight/Savannah Morning News
Credit: Dennis Knight/Savannah Morning News
According to the Georgia State Patrol report, a trooper "detected the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage" coming from McCay at the scene of the crash.
A GBI toxicology report determined that McCay had a blood alcohol content level of 0.33 and had prescription medication in her system as well while driving over 100 mph, said the county attorney Brian DeBlasiis.
Police and court records show that McCay has a history of substance use issues. Incident reports stretching back to 2011 document police being called to the McCay residence to mediate several domestic disputes. In those reports, either police detected the smell of alcohol or her then-husband, Clay McCay, stated she had been drinking or taking prescription medication.
Clay McCay was awarded primary custody of their two sons after their divorce in 2020. Logan was visiting his mother over the weekend when the crash had happened.
SPCR21 03832 J5 Indictment by savannahnow.com on Scribd
Clay McCay testified during the bond hearing that he is concerned about the safety of himself and his eldest son.
Joseph Vigneri, a public defender who spoke on her behalf during the hearing, said there does not seem to be therapeutic substance abuse treatment that would benefit his defendant while she's in jail.
Vigneri said he would like to revisit the bond decision once an evaluation for possible residential treatments in the community is complete.
Nancy Guan is the general assignment reporter covering Chatham County municipalities. Reach her at nguan@gannett.com or on Twitter @nancyguann.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Bond denied for Madrina McCay, mother indicted for the DUI car crash death of her son
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