FRANKLIN COUNTY, Mo. — State troopers arrested a Franklin County man hours after police said he caused a crash that killed his estranged wife.
Facing rape charges for allegedly having sex with a person who didn't have the mental capacity to consent in 2017, Donald A. Pierce Jr, a 45-year-old resident of New Haven, was arrested Saturday evening for allegedly causing the Saturday morning crash that killed Jody A. Pierce.
Jody was heading to her daughter's birthday party before her estranged husband allegedly caused the crash that killed her, loved ones told 5 On Your Side.
According to the crash report, Donald was driving a 2009 Chevrolet Impala behind the 1999 Ford Explorer Jody was driving. The front passenger-side part of Donald's car struck the rear driver-side part of Jody's vehicle before Jody's vehicle veered left, leaving the roadway.
"(Jody's vehicle) began overturning, and its top struck a tree," the crash report said. "(It) traveled down an embankment and into a river."
Investigators said Donald's car left the scene. The crash happened around 4:30 p.m. Jody was declared dead before 5 p.m.
Donald was arrested less than four hours later.
Family said Jody's daughter was speaking to her on the phone shortly before the crash.
"(Jody) told her she was being chased by suspect Donald A. Pierce Jr. when the crash occurred," court records said. "Further investigation revealed Donald A. Pierce Jr. was the driver of a maroon 2009 Chevrolet Impala."
Two other witnesses told investigators they saw the suspect in a Chevrolet at the scene of the crash. Investigators also found Donald's cell phone at the scene near Jody's car.
Shortly before the crash, according to another witness, Donald ran up to Jody's car and jumped through her front passenger side window before verbally assaulting her. He then left the car, ran up the street to his own car, and drove it back to block Jody in a driveway.
Jody was able to leave the driveway in her car, but Donald kept cutting her off.
"Through investigation, it is believed Donald A. Pierce Jr. intentionally used the Chevrolet with its front driver side and rear passenger side to strike (Jody's) Ford, which caused the Ford to go off the left side of the roadway, strike a tree, overturn, and become submerged in a creek."
Donald was charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action.
"During an interview with investigators, Donald A. Pierce Jr. admitted to actively chasing (Jody) when she crashed," the court documents said. "(Donald) denied striking (Jody's) vehicle with his vehicle, just before the crash; however, he said he was behind her when she crashed."
Donald told investigators he jumped in the water to try to save Jody but couldn't do anything. He also told investigators he never called 911 and never contacted police.
Her cousin Jerry Pehle demands justice for Jody.
"They've been married for 20 years and for the last three years, I've been trying to tell her, he was just not the person for her," Pehle explained. "She didn't need this, she didn't deserve this."
He's always cared for his cousin, a mom of two.
"I'd do anything to help her, she'd do the same thing to help me out," he shared.
That's why he was glad she separated from her husband.
"She moved up to Salem and she had a roof over head, she had a job. She was starting to become happy, she was doing better," Pehle added.
He believes there's a motive behind the move.
Donald's rape trial is scheduled for the end of this month.
Pehle explained his cousin had some information.
"She was tired of it, she wanted to turn him in, she wanted to release, get all that weight off her shoulders," Pehle said. "She was going to testify and come clean to the police and everything."
Pehle said he continues what he's always done for his cousin: help her in any way he can and be a voice.
"I'm going to miss her. I absolutely loved her, she was like a sister to me," he told 5 On Your Side.
Jody's brother, Adam Mayfield, spoke to 5 On Your Side on Tuesday evening.
"I don’t know what the motive or what he was thinking at the time," Mayfield said. "I don’t know if he really meant to hurt her or worse, but only time can tell the truth of what was going on in his head, and I believe Jody will get her justice.”
The next court date for the 2017 rape Donald is accused of was scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday. The trial is set to start Oct. 28.
He has another court hearing on Wednesday for these new charges. He is in jail without bond.
Family members created a GoFundMe page to raise funds for Jody Pierce's funeral expenses. It said Jody didn't have life insurance.
