Disbelieving driver was shown bodies of victims

Kim Smith

Thursday, Feb. 8, 2001 | 10:45 a.m.

An Illinois woman facing drunken driving charges in a fatal accident was so convinced a trooper was lying to her about the deaths, she insisted on seeing their bodies.

Melissa Biba, 21, was arraigned this morning on two counts each of involuntary manslaughter, reckless driving and driving under the influence of an intoxicating liquor, causing death.

Her trial date was set for June 11 before District Judge Mark Gibbons.

Prosecutors allege that Biba was in such a hurry to catch a flight back to Illinois on Jan. 13 that she drove from Jean at speeds up to 97 mph on Interstate 15 and sideswiped a pickup while driving on the right shoulder of the road.

The truck, carrying Sandy Valley residents Dick and Carlene Scott, rolled numerous times and landed on its roof. The Scotts both died as a result of broken necks and other injuries.

Blood tests taken after the accident showed Biba had a blood alcohol content of 0.17 and 0.15.

A transcript of the grand jury proceeding that resulted in Biba's indictment was released Tuesday.

In it, Nevada High Patrol Trooper Robert Kintzel told grand jurors that Biba filled out a police report and then insisted upon seeing the Scotts.

"After she was read her Miranda rights and read the charges that she was going to be booked on, she didn't realized that she had killed somebody, so she wanted me to actually prove it to her," Kintzel said. "She wanted to see the deceased bodies. So I then walked her over and showed her the deceased occupants of the pickup truck."

Kintzel said Biba at first showed disbelief, but then said she wanted to die.

"She requested that I shoot her on the side of the road or I help her kill herself," Kintzel said.

Another NHP trooper, Matthew Moonin, drove Biba to the Clark County Detention Center and booked her.

During the drive, Moonin said Biba continually downplayed her role in the accident.

"One of the things I noted that she repeatedly said was, 'My driving may have killed those people, but society is the one to blame.' She went on to say, 'Society made me drink and get in that car,' " Moonin said.

Later in the conversation, Moonin said Biba said, "My life is going to be ruined and that that's not going to happen."

Also testifying at the grand jury proceeding was Snapper Lee Carr, Biba's passenger.

Carr testified that he met Biba at New York-New York on the morning of Jan. 13 and struck up a conversation with her and several others.

Over the course of the morning, Carr said he saw Biba consume at least five alcoholic drinks.

About 10 a.m., Carr said, he went to rent a convertible for a trip to Hoover Dam he wanted to take later in the day. Biba went with him and they ended up driving to Jean.

He let Biba drive the Corvette he rented because she had never driven one, Carr said.

He didn't observe any problems with Biba's driving until they turned around to come back from Jean, Carr said.

Biba began to drive erratically and he told her to pull over, Carr said.

"I used profanity and I said, 'Pull this car over. You don't need to be driving,' " Carr said.

Seconds later, Biba struck the Scotts' pickup.

Carr said the only thing he heard Biba say to the troopers was, "It does not look like I'm going to be back to Chicago today."

Biba remains free on $250,000 bail.