Lisa Marchesoni
Posted: Monday, August 18, 2008 11:09 am

Tennessee Highway Patrol may be asked to take over the investigation of a crash where an 11-year-old girl was killed when struck by a sheriff’s detective’s vehicle, District Attorney William Whitesell reported.

Lakeisha Monique White, 11, died when struck by a sheriff’s vehicle driven by on-duty Detective Sgt. Ron Killings about 8:45 p.m. July 17 on Bradyville Pike. The crash is being investigated by Murfreesboro Police Department.

In a press release Monday, Whitesell stated he met with Lakeisha’s survivors last Thursday where he offered to allow another district attorney not connected by a working relationship with the sheriff’s office and Murfreesboro Police to handle the case.

Also, “I had offered to have that agency (THP) review the crash analysis that had been performed with the consent and knowledge of Chief Glenn Chrisman of the Murfreesboro Police Department,” Whitesell reported.

After the meeting, attorney Bob Whitaker, who represents Lakeisha’s survivors, asked him to step down from handling the case. Whitesell requested the District Attorneys General Conference to appoint another district attorney to handle the case. Also, Whitaker requested THP take over the investigation.

In an Aug. 8 press conference, Chrisman said the police department’s Fatal Accident Crash Team erred when investigators failed to collect liquor bottles witnesses told them were thrown out by Killings. Investigators linked one bottle to Killings while the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is examining the second bottle for his fingerprints.

Chrisman placed Sgt. Sam Campbell, the FACT team commander, on administrative leave with pay.

Director Wally Kirby of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference is expected to appoint a district attorney to handle the case.

“That individual will make any further decisions regarding any requests in regard to the investigation and potential prosecution of any individual,” Whitesell reported.

THP spokeswoman Laura McPherson said there’s been no formal request yet to have the THP investigate.

Whitesell said that the district attorney appointed to handle the case would make decision.