Portsmouth couple indicted for involuntary manslaughter after 7-year-old killed in ATV crash
Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman states that detectives have continued their investigation of a fatal ATV crash that was reported on March 26.
The ATV crash resulted in the death of a 7-year-old. (See: https://highlandcountypress.com/headlines/driver-charged-after-7-year-o…)
Sheriff Thoroughman stated that detectives obtained statements from multiple witnesses and interviewed the driver of the ATV, as well as the mother of the child.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol assisted by obtaining a search warrant to draw blood from the driver after his arrival at Grant Medical Center.
The investigation revealed that the driver of the ATV was allegedly under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident and that the victim’s mother was allegedly aware of this. The driver of the ATV is the boyfriend of the victim’s mother.
Sheriff Thoroughman announced Thursday that the case was presented to a Scioto County grand jury on Friday, April 14, which resulted in indictment warrants being filed.
On Wednesday, April 19, the victim’s mother was arrested without incident at her apartment in Portsmouth. Her boyfriend was later located in West Portsmouth and arrested without incident.
Arrested was Breonna Phipps, 30, of Portsmouth. Phipps has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, a felony of the first degree; child endangerment, a felony of the fifth degree; tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree; and obstructing justice, a felony of the fifth degree.
Also arrested was Jeremy Bryant, 43, of West Portsmouth. Bryant was charged with involuntary manslaughter, a felony of the first degree; two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, a felony of the second degree; endangering children, a felony of the fourth degree and of the fifth degree; inducing panic, a felony of the fourth degree; operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, a misdemeanor of the first degree; operating off street or highway in willful or wanton disregard of the safety of person or property, a minor misdemeanor; misconduct at an emergency, a misdemeanor of the first degree; and a probation violation.
An indictment is merely a charge and is not evidence of guilt.
This is still an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information should contact Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel at 740-351-1091.