Woman charged in death of child who was killed in crash after pursuit, police say

SEMMES, Ala. (WALA/Gray News) - A child who died and another who suffered serious injuries after a police chase and crash early Tuesday morning are believed to be the driver’s own sons, according to police.

Delyshia Molette has been charged with manslaughter and faces additional charges of first-degree robbery, resisting arrest, assaulting a police officer, assault with bodily fluids and eluding.

Semmes Police Chief Todd Freind said Molette, 36, initially ran from officers who responded to a shoplifting complaint early Monday afternoon.

Freind said an officer arrived at the Publix grocery store on Schillinger Road for a report that a woman had put three or four items in her backpack.

“When the officer confronted the suspect, she took off running,” Freind said. “The officer caught up to her and a struggle ensued, and she was able to get her hands, her fingers inside of the officer’s eyes.”

Freind said Molette tried to gouge the officer’s eyes and bit his finger before getting away.

Investigators learned that the woman lives less than a mile away on Dyson Boulevard. After hours of looking for her with trained dogs, police called off the search at about 9 p.m., the chief said.

At about midnight, police returned after getting a tip that Molette was home again.

Freind said Molette got into an Infiniti SUV, then fled down Silver Pine Road and onto Schillinger Road. He said his officer chased her for only about a minute before learning that two children were inside.

“He slowed down, basically let her go,” the chief said.

Freind said Molette was driving in excess of 80 mph and continued even after police broke off the pursuit.

“We can only assume why she kept driving at a high rate of speed,” he said.

The SUV struck a light pole at the intersection of Schillinger and Howells Ferry Road in Mobile.

Freind said Molette was not hurt, but the children both suffered serious injuries; one of them later died at the hospital.

Investigators believe the children in the car were Molette’s sons.

Freind said the initial shoplifting incident resulted in a robbery charge after police discovered Molette had threatened an employee with a weapon, but he added that she had no active warrants or a known criminal record.

“Something relatively simple like that, that could be resolved very easily, turned into something that she’s in jail for four or five different felonies,” he said. “When all it took was for her to cooperate and things would have gone a lot better. You just can’t put people’s lives at risk acting recklessly.”

Molette is scheduled to have a bond hearing on Wednesday morning.