Glynn County Woman Kills Teen in DUI Hit and Run

A woman from Glynn County is being charged with vehicular homicide, as well as other crimes after police discovered a dead teenager on Monday, February 4, 2019.

Madisyn Culpepper, 21, is being charged in the death of 15-year-old Jacob Butts. He was a student at Glynn Academy. Police discovered his body at around 6:45 a.m. on Monday on Lakes Road, but according to officials he was hit and killed a number of hours earlier.

Culpepper was arrested for a suspected DUI following a crash that occurred at 10:30 p.m on Sunday at U.S. Hwy 82 and Baumgardner Road. Police believe that the teen was hit moments before the collision. The crash occurred as the result of Culpepper running a stop sign and crashing into another vehicle.

Culpepper was driving a 2016 Toyota Corolla when she crashed into a 2013 Toyota Highlander SUV who was attempting to turn left onto Baumgardner road. Neither driver was hurt in the accident, and both refused medical treatment at the scene.

Culpepper allegedly slurred her speech when talking with officers. Officers also smelled the "overpowering amount of perfume and alcohol" according to the police report. She also failed several roadside field sobriety tests prior to taking the breathalyzer test at the jail. When tested with the breathalyzer, Culpepper blew a 0.22% blood alcohol content (BAC).

Evidence gathered by police connected Culpepper's vehicle to the body of Jacob Butts, which was found hours later.

Culpepper is charged with vehicular manslaughter, DUI, leaving the scene of an accident, accident causing death or injury, and failure to maintain lane.

Leaving the Scene of the Accident

Leaving the scene of an accident can lead to very serious charges, as well as criminal penalties. Commonly called a "hit and run," O.C.G.A. 40-6-270 governs leaving the scene of an accident in Georgia.

As soon after the accident as possible, a person is required to

• give his or her name, address, and registration number of the vehicle he or she was driving;
• show a driver's license if requested;
• render reasonable assistance to anyone injured; or
• make contact with emergency provider services.

If a person causes a death and leaves the scene of an accident, it is a felony offense. Otherwise, the offense is a misdemeanor with much less serious penalties.

Penalties for Felony Hit & Run

If convicted of a felony level hit and run, a person faces the following potential penalties:

• a minimum of one year in prison,
• a maximum of five years in prison,
• high fines,
• probation, and
• a suspended driver's license.

These offenses can severely affect your life. You will likely spend time in prison without legal help.

Consult a Georgia DUI Attorney

If you or someone you care about has been arrested for DUI or leaving the scene of an accident, your rights are at significant risk. To defend your case and protect your rights, you need an experienced Georgia DUI attorney. Contact us today for a free consultation.