FRANKLIN COUNTY, Mo. — MSHP troopers arrested a Franklin County man hours after a fatal crash for allegedly causing the death of 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, Donald's estranged wife.
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 where Jody was pronounced dead. The crash happened around 4:30 p.m. Jody was declared dead before 5 p.m. Donald was arrested less than four hours later.
According to court documents, a witness was speaking to Jody over 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 had run up to Jody's car and jumped through Jody's 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 faces second-degree murder and armed criminal action charges relative to the Saturday crash.
"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.
The next court date for the 2017 rape Donald is accused of was scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday.
Family members created a GoFundMe page to raise funds for Jody Pierce's funeral expenses.
