Ecstasy tests still questioned in deaths of six teens along I-15

Kim Smith

Monday, Jan. 15, 2001 | 10:04 a.m.

Jurors will learn that blood tests show Jessica Williams had marijuana in her system when a van she was driving ran off the road, killing six teenagers.

But a second test that allegedly showed Ecstasy in her bloodstream is still in question.

District Judge Mark Gibbons told attorneys Friday he will decide within the next week whether prosecutors had the legal right to re-test Williams' blood.

Williams is charged with drifting off Interstate 15 and hitting the six teens as they picked up trash as part of a county community work service program. Five of the teens were killed instantly in the March accident, and one girl died within hours.

Prosecutors believe Williams passed out at the wheel as a result of marijuana and Ecstasy, but her attorney contends she simply fell asleep.

Police obtained a blood sample from Williams after she told them she had been smoking marijuana and officers at the scene found a pipe inside the van she was driving.

Prosecutors Gary Booker and Bruce Nelson then had the blood re-tested when Williams' passenger told a grand jury two weeks later that they had also been using Ecstasy.

Defense attorney John Watkins argued on Friday that a search warrant should have been obtained for both tests.

Gibbons agreed with Nelson, who said they had enough probable cause and reasonable suspicion to perform the test for marijuana. However, he said he wanted to do additional research before ruling on the Ecstasy issue.

If Watkins is correct, Booker said, that would mean that police officers would have to get two search warrants when dealing with weapons cases -- one to obtain the weapon and another to test fire it.

"This is bordering on the ludicrous," Booker said.

Booker told Gibbons he is more than willing to obtain a search warrant now in order to test the blood a third time. However, Watkins said he doesn't believe the testimony of Williams' passenger is enough to obtain such a warrant.

Gibbons said he would decide one issue at a time.

Williams' trial is scheduled for Jan. 29.