A Virginia man is facing murder charges after prosecutors say he caused a deadly drunk driving crash in Michigan that killed a young family of four.
Charles Dean Pace, 27, of Glen Allen, Virginia, was arrested and booked into the Oakland County Jail on July 3, according to inmate records.
Pace was arraigned on Tuesday, July 7, and formally charged with four counts of second-degree murder and four counts of operating while intoxicated causing death, Fox 5 reported. He was denied bond and remains in custody, according to jail records.
Prosecutors allege Pace was behind the wheel of a Ford F-250 truck traveling south on Interstate 75 near East Holly Road in Springfield Township, Michigan, on July 1 when the crash happened.
According to Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald, Pace’s truck was allegedly weaving in and out of lanes at speeds above 90 mph before the fatal wreck.
Michigan State Police investigators also allegedly found that Pace’s blood alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit, McDonald said.
The victims were identified as 23-year-old Zakeria Sharon Dodson, 24-year-old Tieree Powell, and their two young children, 3-year-old Nalani Powell and 2-year-old Karter Powell.
McDonald used blunt language in describing the case, saying the family’s deaths were not simply the result of a tragic accident.
“Zakeria, Tieree, Nalani and Karter did not die in an accident,” McDonald said in her statement. “They were murdered because of this defendant’s alleged choices – to drive drunk, to drive fast and to drive recklessly – that created an obvious and unnecessary danger.”
A GoFundMe fundraiser has since been launched to help the Powell family with funeral costs after the devastating loss.
“Our hearts are shattered as we mourn the unimaginable loss of four beloved family members: Tieree, Zakiera, Nalani, and Karter,” the fundraiser’s description reads.
The fundraiser described Tieree as “a devoted father whose greatest joy was spending time with his children.” Zakeria was remembered as “a loving and nurturing mother who devoted her life to raising her beautiful children with compassion, strength, and unconditional love.”
As of publication time, the fundraiser had raised nearly $54,000 toward its $100,000 goal.
