Texas Couple Face Charges in 17-Year-Old's I-170 Killing, With $1.5 Million Bond Set
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · Oct 21
Texas Couple Face Charges in 17-Year-Old's I-170 Killing, With $1.5 Million Bond Set
3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Oct 21
Summary
Willie Herndon, 43, was charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and being a felon with a firearm in the Oct. 14 shooting death of 17-year-old Alyssa Wilson; his wife Taiya Herndon, 45, was charged with hindering prosecution.
Court records say Wilson was driving to meet a friend at the St. Louis Zoo when a suspect got out of a white Buick Enclave on Interstate 170, fired into the rear of her vehicle, and left as her car crashed into the median.
Investigators traced the SUV through surveillance video and a distinctive decal to a nearby hotel, where they found the vehicle with swapped plates, recovered a firearm, and arrested Willie Herndon after he ran from officers.
Prosecutors said Taiya Herndon drove her husband to Illinois after the shooting; bond was set at $1 million cash for Willie and $500,000 cash-only for Taiya.
Authorities said the couple did not know Wilson and are still withholding a motive, while testing whether the same weapon was used in a separate Oct. 11 road shooting involving a white SUV.