Michigan mom cleared in infants' deaths

Found not guilty by reason of insanity on vehicular homicide charges

Lori Massingill, left, 29, of Ida, Mich., sits with her attorney Scott Hicks, during a hearing before Judge Alan Mayberry during a hearing in Wood County Common Pleas Court today.

BOWLING GREEN — An Ida, Mich. mother charged with aggravated vehicular homicide for driving her infant twins into a ditch last year was found not guilty by reason of insanity today in Wood County Common Pleas Court.

Lori Massingill, 29, was driving north on Fostoria Road south of State Rt. 163 in Troy Township on Nov. 12. with her two 6-week-old children in the back seat when the car hit railroad tracks, went airborne, and eventually crashed in a ditch on the left side of the road, according to state troopers. The two infants, Presley and Parker, both died in the crash.

In addition to the ruling on the two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, Wood County Common Pleas Judge Alan Mayberry found Ms. Massingill not guilty by reason of insanity on one count of endangering children.

Judge Mayberry said that medical documents provided to the court indicate that Ms. Massingill suffered from “psychotic mental illness” at the time of the crash.

A hearing is scheduled for June 26 to decide where Ms. Massingill will be placed.