Feb. 3, 2007: Final two appear on hit-run charges; six freed on $5,000 bond

Monday, January 12, 2009 3:10 AM  |  Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend |

By Holly Fesperman Lee

Salisbury Post

First published February 03, 2007

The remaining two teens indicted in the death of Michael Jason Brown turned themselves in to authorities Friday.

Patsy Elizabeth Morgan, 19, of 7140 U.S. 52, and Derek Ryan Talbert, 21, of 6815 Bringle Ferry Road, are both charged with involuntary manslaughter and passenger fleeing the scene of an accident.

Brown, 27, was riding his motorized scooter on U.S. 52 toward Salisbury in May of 2006.

Authorities believed at first Brown died accidentally when he crossed the center line and his scooter turned over.

Brown's body was later exhumed and law enforcement determined that's not what happened.

Four other teens involved in the incident already turned themselves in Wednesday and Thursday.

Eric Gregory Taylor, 19 of 525 Gin Road, Gold Hill, allegedly drove the 1997 Jeep Cherokee that struck Brown's scooter and didn't stop.

He's charged with involuntary manslaughter and felonious hit and run.

Alstin Lee Vanderford, 19, of 1480 Emmanuel Church Road; Rachel Miller, 19, of 960 Emmanuel Church Road and Brandon Heathcliff Lowery, 21, of 165 Johnson Dairy Road, all of Rockwell, have also been charged with involuntary manslaughter and passenger fleeing the scene of an accident.

Each teen was released on $5,000 bond.