LOS ANGELES — A 59-year-old woman has been charged with crashing into a South Los Angeles apartment building, killing a woman sleeping next to her toddler.
Connie Jo Howard faces one count each of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage causing injury and driving with a .08% blood alcohol content causing injury.
The felony complaint includes allegations of ‘inflicting great bodily injury,’ that Howard was convicted of robberies in 1985 and 1987, and of ‘assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury in 2007.
Howard pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Victim Nicole Marks, 44, was killed as she slept next to her daughter when the defendant’s vehicle reportedly crashed into her bedroom in the building near Main Street and 87th Place on July 3, the prosecutor said. The daughter was not seriously injured but the passenger in Howard’s vehicle suffered serious injuries.
If convicted as charged, the defendant faces a possible maximum sentence of life in state prison. Bail is set at $1.13 million.
The case is being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department, South Traffic Division.
