An Ada woman charged nearly three years ago in connection with the death of a Prague man who died from injuries in a traffic collision has been found guilty of second degree murder.
Haley Jordan Price, 30 at the time, was charged in Lincoln County District Court on Apr. 21, 2021 with first degree manslaughter and feloniously driving while under the influence of alcohol District Attorney Adam Panter in 2023 amended the charges against Price to include Count 1, first degree manslaughter or in the Alternative Count 2, second degree murder.
Last week, at the conclusion of a bench trial presided over by Associate District Judge Sheila Kirk, the judge found Price guilty of second degree murder. Judge Kirk ordered a pre-sentence investigation. She scheduled sentencing for 1 p.m. April 15.
Assistant District Attorneys Rachel Thompson and Kelly Trimble prosecuted the case. Price was represented by attorney Kim Miller.
Thompson said afterwards, “The Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office is thankful for the hard work of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and other professionals who were able to help secure justice for Tommy Rogers.”
She also indicated that after 3½ long years for the victim’s family, “they were so relieved to finally get some justice.”
The manslaughter charge stated that on Oct. 26, 2020 Price caused the death of Tommy Rogers, 81, by driving a car on Highway 62 in Lincoln County and by causing or allowing the car to cross the center line and strike the pickup being driven by Rogers, which resulted in injuries to Rogers from which Rogers died.
It further stated Price was engaged in the commission of a misdemeanor, unlawfully driving a motor vehicle when Price’s license was suspended, revoked or cancelled.
The alternative, second degree murder, accused Price of causing the death of Rogers by driving a car on Highway 62 in Lincoln County and by causing or allowing the car to cross the center line and strike the pickup being driven by Rogers, which resulted in injuries to Rogers from which Rogers died, while she was engaged in the commission of a felony by unlawfully driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol after having been previously convicted of driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol (DUI) in Pontotoc County case CM-201231, a felony violation.