A Johnson County judge denied bond yesterday for Jill Conaghan, the 19-year-old woman charged with involuntary manslaughter and driving under the influence in connection with the hit-and-run death of an Overland Park woman.
The Kansas City Star reports
that the judge refused to lower Conaghan's bond due to her history of
drug abuse. The judge even said her abuse of drugs left him "genuinely
concerned about public safety."
Meanwhile, Conaghan's defense attorneys argued in favor of allowing her to finish an out-of-state, drug-treatment program.
From the Star:
Jill Kenney, assistant prosecutor, countered, "Any attempt to get her into treatment now is too little, too late."Conaghan is accused of running over 70-year-old Sandra Carocari, who wasShe noted that the teen was caught possessing alcohol while with a
convicted marijuana dealer less than two weeks after the fatal
accident. She also was allegedly caught in possession two more times
before the end of September, the prosecutor said.
tending to her garden in her front lawn when she was struck and killed by a van. The van's driver
fled the scene -- in the 9800 block of West 99th Terrace -- but later
returned and admitted hitting Carocari.
Johnson County prosecutors charged Conaghan on Wednesday with
involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence, failure to
stop at an accident resulting in death, improper driving on a laned
road, driving on a sidewalk, and three counts of consumption of liquor
by a minor. The minor in possession charges are for three
incidents -- July 30, August 24 and September 23 -- unrelated to the
hit-and-run incident.
Conaghan's next hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. December 10.
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having personally known both congahan and Mertensmeyer, the news of this story is really sad. Curtis M shoudl still be in jail and not at school, having the best times of his life. this just makes me think that this could happen to anyone. literally anyone. i just hope nothign like this happens again so i will have known 3 people in my age group that i know murder someone in this way. jill is suppose to be livin it up right now but she will spend a few years in jail thinking about that one mistake she made. it just makes me think
I am so sorry for Carocari family. I know if it were my relative, I would want justice. On the other hand I feel for the conaghan family -- she is so young and hate that her life is ruined but reality is she made the choice. I can't but help believe this isn't her first accident or the first signs of trouble. How many cars has she wrecked? Not the total report to insurance? Denial doesn't work as parent -- do be your kids friends. I would guess you could ask several people close to the family or child about her driving or life style and all would agree there were many red flags. I pray justice can be served in some way not ruin this girls life forever but don't know what that is. Yes, I hate the idea of an 19 year old girl in jail and would hate it if it were boy too. We as parents can't check out -- we need to snoop or whatever it takes to keep the eye on the kids.
I am so sorry for Carocari family. I know if it were my relative, I would want justice. On the other hand I feel for the conaghan family -- she is so young and hate that her life is ruined but reality is she made the choice. I can't but help believe this isn't her first accident or the first signs of trouble. How many cars has she wrecked? Not the total report to insurance? Denial doesn't work as parent -- do be your kids friends. I would guess you could ask several people close to the family or child about her driving or life style and all would agree there were many red flags. I pray justice can be served in some way not ruin this girls life forever but don't know what that is. Yes, I hate the idea of an 19 year old girl in jail and would hate it if it were boy too. We as parents can't check out -- we need to snoop or whatever it takes to keep the eye on the kids.
I am so sorry for Carocari family. I know if it were my relative, I would want justice. On the other hand I feel for the conaghan family -- she is so young and hate that her life is ruined but reality is she made the choice. I can't but help believe this isn't her first accident or the first signs of trouble. How many cars has she wrecked? Not the total report to insurance? Denial doesn't work as parent -- do be your kids friends. I would guess you could ask several people close to the family or child about her driving or life style and all would agree there were many red flags. I pray justice can be served in some way not ruin this girls life forever but don't know what that is. Yes, I hate the idea of an 19 year old girl in jail and would hate it if it were boy too. We as parents can't check out -- we need to snoop or whatever it takes to keep the eye on the kids.
"who the F cares what a person looks like when there's a death involved"
I'm sure that Anonymous wasn't talking about Conaghan's looks, because she's pretty damned hot. He was saying that she looks to be a worse POS than that other guy, because of her multiple MIP's between the accident and now.
Hey, anonymous-I'd like to see how much of a POS you'd look like in a mugshot and second of all-how the F cares what a person looks like when there's a death involoved-What is wrong with you people, and good job JOCO-are you kidding me Caroline. You know nothing about this case, just have waaay too much time on your hands to bash people "below your standards". She is 19, drug problems are fairly common and actually legally considered a disease, which you clearly know nothing about. And when a 19 year old girl still goes back to the scene to turn herself in, "Young Killer" is a real far stretch. But let's not forget that just off of your ridiculous comment alone...there's a whole lot of "CATCHY NAMEs" people could throw out you. I hope to God you people don't have children but if you do, perhaps we'll later see a more "shocking" story involving those ingrates. Nothing but ignorant, gullible, sad, mean spirited trash.
The whole Mertensmeyer thing was sickening. Obviously that little punk's parents were connected or rich enough to keep him from getting the punishment he deserved.
Even though that kid seemed like a real P.O.S., this broad looks even worse.
Is it just me or is this headline incorrect? She hasn't been denied bond, but her request for her bond to be lowered was denied, right? Still $100k.
Good. After Curtis Mertensmeyer got off with a little slap on the wrist for a similar crime in MO, it's nice to see a judge enforce the law on an irresponsible young killer with a substance abuse problem. Mertensmeyer not only had bond, but had it reduced. I never thought I'd say it, but good job JoCo.
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