A woman accused of intentionally driving the wrong way on I-75 in 2019 and killing a Mason family has been found not guilty on murder and aggravated vehicular homicide charges.Abby Michaels, 25, of Xenia, faced six counts of murder and three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide in Montgomery County court this week.Judge Steven Dankof filed the six-page written verdict on Friday.Michaels is accused of intentionally driving the wrong way on I-75 on March 17, 2019, and crashing into a Mason family's car. Timmy Thompson, his wife Karen, and their 10-year-old daughter Tessa were killed. "My parents and I are devastated by the verdict. Judge Dankof's sympathy for Abby Michaels has been apparent throughout this egregiously long process, culminating in an incomprehensible outcome. Our sincere thanks to Prosecutors Ann Gramza and Bryan Moore, and to Sgt. Andy Parish for their tireless pursuit of justice for Karen, Tim and Tessa. We absolutely believe they proved her guilt on all counts, and appreciate their commitment and dedication to seeking a rightful conviction," a statement from Karen Thompson's sister Jenny read on behalf of the family.Michaels is no longer listed as an inmate in the Montgomery County jail. Prosecutors said it was a suicide attempt. Michaels' Husband, Kyle Pastorelle, had filed for divorce two days earlier and refused to see her that night."She made those text messages to Kyle, 'Goodbye. I love you. I am dying now' at 8 p.m. That was two-and-a-half minutes before the collision," said Ann Gramza, assistant prosecutor for Montgomery County.Pastorelle testified during the bench trial and said Michaels also told him she was going to drive "backward" on the highway.In the verdict filed Friday, Dankof wrote: "It is crystal clear to the court that Kyle Pastorelle's testimony is untrue and unworthy of belief."Defense attorneys said Michaels wasn't in control of her car, because she was having a seizure, and she's had them before. "Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures are real. They're not the patient's fault. They're not fake, and they manifest themselves in a way where a person cannot control their motor function," said defense attorney Jay Adams.Adams said since Michaels couldn't control her motor function she was not acting knowingly or recklessly, therefore she should be found not guilty. This is a breaking news story and will be updated as WLWT continues to learn more information.
A woman accused of intentionally driving the wrong way on I-75 in 2019 and killing a Mason family has been found not guilty on murder and aggravated vehicular homicide charges.
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Abby Michaels, 25, of Xenia, faced six counts of murder and three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide in Montgomery County court this week.
Judge Steven Dankof filed the six-page written verdict on Friday.
Michaels is accused of intentionally driving the wrong way on I-75 on March 17, 2019, and crashing into a Mason family's car. Timmy Thompson, his wife Karen, and their 10-year-old daughter Tessa were killed.
"My parents and I are devastated by the verdict. Judge Dankof's sympathy for Abby Michaels has been apparent throughout this egregiously long process, culminating in an incomprehensible outcome. Our sincere thanks to Prosecutors Ann Gramza and Bryan Moore, and to Sgt. Andy Parish for their tireless pursuit of justice for Karen, Tim and Tessa. We absolutely believe they proved her guilt on all counts, and appreciate their commitment and dedication to seeking a rightful conviction," a statement from Karen Thompson's sister Jenny read on behalf of the family.
Michaels is no longer listed as an inmate in the Montgomery County jail.
Prosecutors said it was a suicide attempt. Michaels' Husband, Kyle Pastorelle, had filed for divorce two days earlier and refused to see her that night.
"She made those text messages to Kyle, 'Goodbye. I love you. I am dying now' at 8 p.m. That was two-and-a-half minutes before the collision," said Ann Gramza, assistant prosecutor for Montgomery County.
Pastorelle testified during the bench trial and said Michaels also told him she was going to drive "backward" on the highway.
In the verdict filed Friday, Dankof wrote: "It is crystal clear to the court that Kyle Pastorelle's testimony is untrue and unworthy of belief."
Defense attorneys said Michaels wasn't in control of her car, because she was having a seizure, and she's had them before.
"Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures are real. They're not the patient's fault. They're not fake, and they manifest themselves in a way where a person cannot control their motor function," said defense attorney Jay Adams.
Adams said since Michaels couldn't control her motor function she was not acting knowingly or recklessly, therefore she should be found not guilty.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated as WLWT continues to learn more information.
