AARON, ALEX and ANTHONY TURLEY - 8, 7 & 2 - Morrilton AR

Poster's Note: No, the charges are not murder. However, three young boys are dead due to the intoxication of the suspect. IMHO, Six of one, Half a dozen of another...

The mother of three young children who drowned after she drove into
a central Arkansas lake had been drinking before the crash, authorities
said Friday, the second recent case in which a mom is accused of
consuming alcohol before getting behind the wheel with her kids.

Amber
Turley, 26, was driving during a storm in early morning darkness on
April 19 when she took a wrong turn onto a road that led straight into
Brewer Lake, about 45 miles from Little Rock. She swam to shore but
told investigators she was unable to rescue her boys -- Aaron, 8, Alex,
7, and 2-year-old Anthony. She was arrested Friday and is
charged with three counts of felony endangerment of a child. Her
attorney, Dale Lipsmeyer, didn't return a call for comment. Turley told
Conway County Sheriff Mike Smith after the crash that it was simply a
terrible accident. Her father, Larry Hopkins, told reporters Friday his
daughter was not drunk when the car plunged into the artificial lake. "She had a drink earlier that night, but the crash was way, way later," Hopkins said.He declined to give more details, saying his attorney told him not to speak to the media. Prosecutor
Tom Tatum said the alcohol was among several factors that resulted in
the endangerment allegations, but he would not disclose results of
toxicology tests, say specifically where she was drinking or describe
other elements that led to the charges. He said he considered several
different charges, but felt the most comfortable bringing the
endangerment ones before a jury. But authorities said they
didn't think Turley meant to drown her children. "If I thought it (the
crash) was intentional, there would be different charges," said Smith,
who was among rescuers trying to save the boys the night of the
accident. Turley was booked into jail Friday morning and was released on $5,000 bond. An arraignment is set for Sept. 8. After
the accident, Smith said Turley told him she had visited a friend in
Conway, then stopped several miles north of that city in Mallet Town,
where she dropped off her boyfriend. About another dozen miles away was
Turley's home near Plummerville. Driving at 3 a.m. in a thunderstorm,
she missed her turn and instead turned on Johnny Walker Road, which led
straight into the lake. Hopkins has said his daughter was
occupied with her children when the car hit the water. "The little
fellows were fussing with one another and she was trying to get them
pacified," Hopkins said.

A woman whose three sons drowned when her car plunged into Brewer
Lake in April had a blood-alcohol level less than that considered
legally intoxicated while driving in Arkansas, but she also had
marijuana and another drug in her system, a laboratory report shows. Amber
Turley, 26, was arrested Friday on three felony counts of endangering
the welfare of a minor in the April 19 deaths of her sons, Aaron, 8,
Alex, 7, and Anthony, 2.

Turley, who lives in the Morrilton
area, was later released on$5,000 bond, said Deputy Johnathan Trafford
of the Conway County sheriff’s office.

The mother of three young children who drowned after she drove her
car into a manmade lake in central Arkansas told police she fell asleep
behind the wheel before the crash, waking only after feeling water
surge into her car, court documents show.Amber Turley, 26, told
officers she tried to pull her three sons out of Brewer Lake during an
early morning thunderstorm but lost sight of them. Officers found the
boys, limp and not breathing, after the diaper of her 2-year-old son
floated to the surface, according to a police report.The boys — Aaron, 8, Alex, 7, and Anthony, 2 — were pronounced dead at a hospital.Turley
faces three counts of felony endangerment of a child in the April 19
crash. Toxicology reports from the state Crime Laboratory show a blood
sample collected from Turley after the crash tested positive for
marijuana and benzodiazepines, a class of drugs that include sleeping
and anxiety pills.Turley also had a blood-alcohol level of .05, the crime lab reported. The legal limit in Arkansas is .08.In
an autopsy report for Aaron, a medical examiner wrote in the margin:
"If mother was intoxicated, may rule as homicide." The medical examiner
who performed the autopsy on Anthony wrote: "Case is strange at best as
to circumstances and may represent homicide, neglect or worse."Turley's lawyer, Dale Lipsmeyer of Morrilton, declined to comment Wednesday.Before
the crash, witnesses told police that Turley attended a party with her
children in Conway County, where she had about 2 1/2 glasses of cola
and cinnamon schnapps. Partygoers also passed around a marijuana pipe
that was refilled "two to three times," the report shows.Turley
quit drinking about two hours before leaving the party to drive her
boyfriend home, witnesses said. The police report shows he sent her a
text message asking her to have a good night."At approximately
3:13 a.m., (the boyfriend) received a message back from her that read:
`U to TTYL,'" an Arkansas State Police report reads. "That was the last
time he heard from Turley."Minutes later, police say, Turley
missed her turn on the way home. Instead, she drove down Johnny Walker
Road, which led straight into Brewer Lake. Police found her car turned
sideways in the lake in about 9 feet of water, 100 feet away from the
shore.Police say Turley later told investigators that she hit
her brakes before reaching the water, which contradicts her initial
statements to officers as she screamed for her children alongside the
darkened lake. The case file in the clerk's office included the first
page of her interview with the Arkansas State Police but nothing else.Prosecutor Tom Tatum did not immediately return a call for comment Wednesday.Turley remains free on $5,000 bond. Her arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 8.

The
Conway County, Arkansas woman accused of driving into Brewer Lake
before her three sons drowned is now being further investigated by the
department of human services.

Amber Turley is charged with
three counts of endangering the welfare of a minor in the deaths of her
sons, Alex, Aaron and Anthony.

Turley confessed to investigators she'd been drinking and smoking marijuana the day of the incident.

Autopsies are being conducted, as part of the 30-day investigation.

Ark. mom allegedly drank before her 3 boys drowned

Date: 2009-08-26, 1:33PM PDT

Authorities say the mother whose three young boys drowned when she drove into a central Arkansas lake had been drinking before the accident.

Conway County Sheriff Mike Smith said Friday that 26-year-old Amber Turley was arrested earlier that morning at her parent's house. She has been charged with felony endangerment in the April crash.

Prosecutor Tom Tatum says the alcohol was among several factors that resulted in the charges. It wasn't immediately clear whether Turley had an attorney. She has previously said the crash was an accident.

Smith acknowledged the emotions involved in bringing charges against the mother, but says he was acting on behalf of the children.

Turley has been released on $5,000 bond.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The mother of three children who drowned after she drove into a central Arkansas lake has been charged with felony endangerment in the deaths of her sons.

Amber Turley, 26, was driving during a storm in early morning darkness on April 19 when she took a wrong turn onto a section of road that led straight into Brewer Lake, about 45 miles from Little Rock. She was able to make it to shore but told investigators she was unable to rescue her boys — Aaron, 8, Alex, 7, and Anthony, 2.

She was charged Thursday with three counts of endangering a minor. If convicted, she faces up to six years in prison on each count. She has always contended that it was an accident.

Her father, Larry Hopkins, said Friday the deaths have devastated the family and the charges were an "outrage."

"I think this is outrageous," Hopkins said. "They're saying that my daughter basically killed her kids."

Hopkins has said his daughter was trying to calm her children when she unexpectedly drove into the lake. The boys were later pronounced dead at a hospital.

The utility company, Conway Corp., manages Lake Brewer and has since put up barriers on the road Turley was on that led into the artificial lake. Conway Corp. didn't immediately return a call for comment Friday morning.

Hopkins blamed the company for the accident and said the road was regarded as a hazard for years, but the barricade didn't go up until after his grandchildren were killed.

"They say it's not over until the fat lady sings. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what tune they're going to play," Hopkins said.

Shortly after the accident, Conway County Sheriff Mike Smith said initially there was no indication Turley intended for her children to die. Smith said he would discuss the case later Friday.

Hopkins said his daughter has struggled since the deaths.

"She's tore up like, you know, who wouldn't?," he said. "She's done lost everything anyway."

Ark. mother sentenced in child drownings
Woman admits drinking alcohol, pleads guilty to child endangerment
By CHUCK BARTELS Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press
updated 3/16/2010 3:40:40 PM ET

MORRILTON, Ark. — A woman who drove into a lake after a late-night party, killing her three young sons, pleaded guilty Tuesday to three counts of child endangerment after tearfully telling the court she had been drinking alcohol that night.

Conway County Circuit Judge Jerry Don Ramey sentenced Amber Turley, 27, to three two-year prison terms, to run concurrently. She will also be on probation for four years after her release.

Turley sobbed as she addressed the court.

'Had a few drinks'
"I had a few drinks earlier in the night and drove my children," she said, crying.

She said she drank alcohol at a party before getting into the car for the drive home in the early morning hours of April 19 last year. Witnesses also told investigators that she smoked marijuana at the party.

Turley, of Plumerville, did not speak in court about the specifics of the crash or comment as she was led away afterward.

Prosecutor Tom Tatum said after the hearing that Turley had been drinking the night of the accident, became disoriented and made a wrong turn. He said she was also under the influence of marijuana and that she had been arguing with her "ex-spouse," her boyfriend and the children that night. She was also driving in a thunderstorm.
Investigators said Turley's blood alcohol content that night was .05 percent, below the state's .08 percent legal limit. Prosecutors said she also tested positive for marijuana and a prescription depressant.

James Turley, the boys' father, said after the hearing that his estranged wife has apologized to him several times.

'She's scared'
"She hates it, it was an accident," Turley said. "I think she's scared, hurting just as much as everyone else is." Speaking for his sons, Turley said, "They don't want to see their mother in trouble like this either."

After the sentencing, Pat Bradley, who identified herself as an aunt to the boys, read a statement in court on behalf of James Turley and other family members.

"You making some very bad choices brought us to a point in our life that no father or grandparent should ever have to face," Bradley said. "No matter what path you pick in life, never forget that moment that took our boys from us, and please never repeat the act that caused this. We hope it was not worth all the so-called fun you had that night."

After she finished reading, Bradley and Amber Turley hugged briefly and sobbed. Outside of court, Bradley said she believes Amber Turley should have received a longer sentence.

"This was the worst mistake (Turley) could have made in her life," Bradley said.

Another aunt, Vurlon Egger, called the sentence "completely unreasonable."

At least a year in prison
"She should have gotten at least 18 years," Egger said. "She knew when she got in that car to drive that she was messed up."

Tatum said after the hearing that Turley will spend at least a year in prison, receive substance abuse treatment and counseling, and have a year to contemplate her actions.

As for why she was not charged with more serious crimes, Tatum said he had to charge Turley with an offense that would likely result in a conviction and there were several elements in the defense's favor.

The street she was on, Johnny Walker Road, ran straight into the man-made lake, which at the time of the accident lacked a barricade. Turley's blood wasn't drawn until four or five hours after the crash, and Tatum said it would have been difficult to make stick expert testimony that she was legally intoxicated while driving.

He also said he had to consider whether Turley would be likely to offend again and noted that she was "very remorseful."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35896991/