Judge sets $1 million bond, orders psych evaluation for OSU parade crash suspect (2024)

STILLWATER, Okla. — Bond was set Monday at $1 million for Adacia Chambers, the driver who on Saturday plowed into Oklahoma State's Homecoming parade, killing four and injuring more than 40.

At the hearing, Special District Judge Katherine Thomas also ordered a psychological evaluation for Chambers, whose attorney said Sunday that he believes his client may have been suffering from a mental illness.

"I was not satisfied at all that I was speaking with a competent individual," attorney Tony Coleman said. "There have been warning signs coming from Ms. Chambers; a pattern of behavior that should have been treated long before yesterday."

Chambers was arrested Saturday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence after running her car through the Oklahoma State University homecoming parade in Stillwater. The fatal crash left four people dead, including a 2-year-old.

Stillwater Police Department booked Chambers on four counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Nash Lucas, 2, Nakita Prahabkar, 23, Bonnie Jean Stone, 65 and Marvin Lyle Stone, 65.

“It’s heart-breaking, I got yanked out of sleep after working all night,” her father Floyd Chambers said “to hear the news talking about it and hear my screaming mother saying ‘Oh my God something bad has happened,’ is pretty hard.”

During Monday afternoon's hearing, District Attorney Laura Austin-Thomascalled for the $1 million bail, saying she believes Chambers to be a direct threat to the community and that Chambers has no direct attachment with Stillwater. According to boyfriend Jesse Gaylord, Chambers has only lived in Stillwater since February. She is originally from Oologah, Oklahoma, about 90 miles away.

Austin-Thomas said she was not prepared to present the court with formal charges, stating “we will be filing four counts of second-degree murder but at this time we are worried about a fifth as well," alluding to another critical patient injured Saturday.

Austin-Thomas went on to say that due to the magnitude of this crime, and the others injured, many other charges are expected to be filed as the investigation progresses.

Coleman proposed a bail of $250,000, arguing that a bail amount is to assure court appearance, not to punish.

“I believe a million dollar bond is a punishment,” Coleman said.

Thomas agreed with the district attorney’s statements that Chambers could be a threat to the community and set the bond at $1 million.

Thomas then went on to grant the district attorney two weeks to write formal charges. The court also granted the defense a psychological evaluation for Chambers.

The next scheduled court appearance is 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 13.

After the arraignment hearing, Floyd Chambers was asked what he thought of the bail amount.

“I don’t know. I don’t have that kind of money," he said.

A conviction for murder in the second degree has a sentence of 10 years to life imprisonment for each count.

Floyd Chambers, Gaylord and her aunt Lynda Branstetter, spoke with reporters before the hearing.

“I never had any inclination that she had hate in her heart,” said Floyd Chambers. “I just want to say from behalf of the family, that I’m very sorry for those victims and the people that lost their lives. It was a horrible tragic accident and my heart goes out to them. My family has prayed for them and I just want everyone to know that we are all Oklahomans and Oklahoma is strong. We will lean on our faith, trusting God and love those who have been lost.”

According to the Stillwater police, Chambers was taken to Stillwater Medical Center to obtain blood samples as required by Oklahoma statute in collisions involving fatality and serious injury. The blood samples, it said, will be sent to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation for testing.

However, Coleman, who met with Chambers Saturday night, said that drinking and driving doesn't fit Chamber's personality.

"Her behavior was not consistent with someone who was coming off a drunken stupor, if you will. However, the police acted appropriately, considering the circ*mstances," Coleman said.

A witness on Saturday told the Stillwater News Press that Chambers appeared upset while she was leaving work, possibly crying. Her employer at Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers said she appeared fine when she left.

“She was always on time. She is a pleasant person. I have nothing to say about her that isn't good. She has been an excellent employee,” Mark Thompson said. “She didn't appear to be under the influence (when she left).”

On Sunday, a vigil was held on the Oklahoma State campus. The university is discussing plans for a memorial service and will provide details as soon as possible.

“We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families and friends of these wonderful individuals,” said OSU President Burns Hargis. “Marvin and Bonnie Stone were dedicated OSU employees who will be missed by their many OSU friends. Nicolette Strauch is an OSU student-employee devastated by the loss of her two-year-old son Nash. We offer our condolences to the campus of the University of Central Oklahoma and to OSU’s students from India on the loss of UCO student Nakita Prabhakar. We also send our thoughts and prayers to all those who are recovering from this incomprehensible tragedy, including a number of OSU students and employees.”

After the hearing, Coleman spoke to reporters one last time and made comments about Chamber’s appearance. He said he met with her before the hearing.

“I call it a flat affect. What I got from her I was unmoved, unimpressed by what she said to me and that’s how I perceived her on Saturday, as well," Coleman said. "I asked her if she remembered speaking with me Saturday, and she did, but needed me to remind her what we spoke about. I then asked if she remembered when she was transferred to the county jail (from the city jail) and she said ‘I’m at the county?’.”

Coleman went on to say he is not sure that CHambers knew if she was even in jail.

Details for this story were reported by the Stillwater (Okla.) News Press