Teen accused in deadly crash released on bond

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

The Brazil teenager who led police on a high-speed chase last month that ended in a crash that killed a Northview High School student on U.S. 40 on the Putnam/Clay county line will spend no time in jail while he awaits trial.

Circuit Court Judge Matthew Headley set bail for Cody D. Wright, 18, Brazil, at $10,000 with a $1,000 surety bond Monday, which his parents posted after the hearing.

Wright is facing charges of resisting law enforcement and criminal recklessness, both felonies.

Wright's lawyer, Terre Haute-based Edward McGlone, argued that his client should be free on bail because he must receive frequent treatment from a slew of doctors, including a neurosurgeon, as a result of his injuries from the crash.

Wright's neck was in a brace and he had to rest his chin on his hand from time-to-time as he answered Headley's questions at the initial hearing of the case.

McGlone also cited Wright's strong ties to the community -- he lives with his parents, both of whom were present at the hearing, he is a student at Ivy Tech Community College and he has lived in Brazil his entire life -- as further justification for giving him the opportunity to post bail.

Wright has been staying at his parents' home, where he will remain for the rest of the case.

Wright is accused of running from police on the morning of Nov. 17 on U.S. 40 near Putnamville --reaching speeds of well over 100 miles per hour before he crashed his 1992 Chevrolet Camaro into a tree, according to court documents.

At 10:39 a.m., an Indiana State Police trooper observed Wright driving west on U.S. 40 at 117 miles per hour in a 45 mile per hour zone. When Master Trooper Dave Furnas pulled in behind Wright and turned on his lights, the teenager responded by accelerating to 129 miles per hour, according to an affidavit filed by State Police.

Wright then turned left on County Road 900 West and continued south on that road for about a mile before he lost control and struck a tree.

Wright's girlfriend, 17-year-old Brandee N. Siples, a Brazil resident and Northview High School student, was killed on impact by massive head trauma.

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  • He's out walking around after a $1,000 bond while her parents try to figure out what they are going to do without her. Hey Brandee Siples parents get a attorney and sue the little creep and his parents. Take everything that they own and everything they may ever own. Maybe then he will learn.

    -- Posted by fourhorses on Tue, Dec 4, 2007, at 5:40 AM
  • Unless you've been through something like this, you have no clue what it's like. His parents are not responsible for his actions and to suggest suing them is ridiculous. Additionally, Brandee's parents have made it clear that they do not want to see him jailed, which tells me there is more to this than meets the eye. It's not the public's right to judge.

    I pray you never have a child who makes a painfully irrational decision because I can assure you that the agony his parents are enduring right now is indescribable. I hope the public will stop adding to their pain.

    -- Posted by TinaS on Tue, Dec 4, 2007, at 7:51 AM
  • Actually, first I would like to respond to "fourhorses" from your comment it seems obvious which end of the horse you are speaking from.

    As for the case itself: It is horrible what happened to Brandee, but it was an accident and Cody needs to be held accountable for his actions. I work at a correctional facility and we have enough "real" convicts and really don't need to have the taxpayer support a young person that made a very bad decision. I do not think he should go "scot free" and probably strict probation would be the better choice for his punishment.

    -- Posted by Taxpayer5253 on Tue, Dec 4, 2007, at 8:59 AM
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