PIKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS — A Griggsville woman was arrested Tuesday and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder after the Pike County Sheriff’s Office said she deliberately steered her car into the path of an oncoming semi-truck in July, intending to kill everyone in her vehicle.
Jamie Rhode was lodged in the Pike County Jail on October 20. The Pike County Sheriff’s Office said its investigation found she “purposely steered her vehicle in front of the oncoming semi-tractor trailer with the intent of killing all occupants of her vehicle.”
The Crash
The head-on collision happened at 7:54 p.m. on July 24 on US 54 near the top of Atlas Hill, about one mile east of Atlas. Rhode crossed the center yellow line and struck the front driver’s side corner of the semi-tractor. She and her two passengers were taken to Illini Community Hospital and then transferred to other hospitals. Medical helicopters could not fly because of weather. One passenger, 73-year-old Cherie K. Wells of Pittsfield, later died of her injuries at a hospital in St. Louis County, Missouri.
The semi driver, Michael R. Richardson of Robstown, Texas, was taken to Illini Community Hospital by police with injuries.
The Charges
A report was submitted to the Pike County State’s Attorney’s Office. On October 16, Judge J. Frank McCartney signed an arrest warrant. Rhode was arrested four days later. Authorities have not said how Rhode knew Wells or why she allegedly wanted everyone in the car to die.
Pike County EMS, Pleasant Hill and Spring Creek fire departments, Pittsfield Fire Department, Illinois State Police, IDOT, Pittsfield Police, Pike County (Missouri) Sheriff’s Office, and Pike County Emergency Management assisted at the scene.
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