ST. LOUIS — The driver accused of fatally striking a Chicago mother and daughter while speeding through an intersection will now be on house arrest, surrender his driver’s license and only be allowed to go to medical appointments, his attorney’s office or court while he waits for trial.
Judge Catherine Dierker granted the Circuit Attorney’s Office request for bond conditions for Monte Henderson, 22, during a hearing Tuesday.
Henderson also cannot consume alcohol or drugs and will be monitored by GPS while living with his mother in Kirkwood. He will also not be allowed to have any contact with the families of the victims, Laticha Bracero, 42, and her daughter, Alyssa Cordova, 21.
Prosecutors say he was traveling at least 70 mph when he crashed into the pedestrians, in town for a Drake concert. Henderson’s attorney, Scott Rosenblum, tells 5 On Your Side his client was on his way to pick up his mother from the same concert on the night of the crash. Rosenblum said his client has no criminal history and was working and going to school.
Judge Annette Llewellyn allowed Henderson to post 10% of his $200,000 bond on Feb. 15 without any conditions, which led to outrage from the victim’s families. He was released less than 24 hours after being charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of armed criminal action.
St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore’s office then filed a motion to increase the bond and set conditions for release.
Prosecutors noted Henderson has been ticketed for speeding more than 20 mph over the speed limit twice in the past three years.
In court on Tuesday, the prosecutors read victim impact statements on behalf of the family, who resides in Chicago.
Alyssa Cordova father's said in part, "This senseless act stole every dream and milestone unachieved. Our family deserves to see accountability for the future she never had."
Bracero's sister said the two women were her world. She even gave a message to Henderson saying, "Take this as a severe lesson. Be a better person."
The letter continued on by asking the judge, "Help us get justice so this never happens again."
The family shared a joint statement saying in part, "He used his vehicle as a weapon that night. We ask you to be an advocate for justice."
Surveillance footage of the crash went viral online Monday, and Henderson’s attorney said he hopes the police are trying to find out how it happened.
“It’s not only a potential problem in obtaining a fair and impartial jury, but you have to question how it got released,” Rosenblum said. “I would think the police department would want to conduct an investigation to find out how evidence has been released to the public.
"Obviously the family wasn’t happy with it, apparently it went viral, I don’t know but you know it has an effect on everybody."
The St. Louis Police Department confirmed that an internal investigation is ongoing into how the video was leaked.
"As is the case in all internal investigations, we will not be commenting further at this time," Sgt. Charles Wall said.
The video was posted to a Facebook page on Monday, and has since spread across various social media.
5 On Your Side is not linking to the page, and is not broadcasting the video as it shows the moment people are killed.
The four-second clip appears to be taken from a camera mounted atop a building near the crash scene at North 18th and Olive streets, just one block from police headquarters.
The video leaked online appears to be taken by someone recording a video of a police computer screen with their cellphone as the surveillance footage plays on the computer.
It shows Henderson’s vehicle first strike a car that is traveling through a green light, which sent Henderson’s Jeep rotating clockwise and careening into the victims. The women were walking on the crosswalk. The Jeep continued to move until it T-boned another vehicle.
The mother and daughter had just left the Drake concert at Enterprise Center when they were struck while crossing at North 18th and Olive streets.
Court documents allege Henderson was driving more than 70 mph in the downtown streets and ran the red light before impact.
“He’s going to school and working, he’s had no problems in the past,” Rosenblum told 5 On Your Side.
Henderson posted 10% of his $200,000 bail on Feb. 16.
He’s been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of armed criminal action.
St. Louis Police Chief Robert Tracy commented on the case during a St. Louis Business Journal event before charges were filed.
"He's going to be held accountable," Tracy said. "He destroyed families, killed two people."
The next court date for Henderson is a preliminary hearing on March 29th.
Rosenblum said, "They’ll set up a preliminary hearing but it’ll be up to the state to proceed with a preliminary hearing or present it to a grand jury. That's a decision up to the state, so whichever way it goes, we will enter a plea of not guilty and start looking through the evidence."
Nicole Rivera, who was a cousin to the victims, said the duo loved music and going to concerts was "their thing."
She said the two were best friends.
The family said Bracero would take her daughter to concerts to make sure she was safe.
"If I'm being honest, the only way I can try to get through it is knowing that they were together because if either one of them made it, they wouldn't have survived without the other," Rivera said. "We want them here more than anything but if we can't have that, of course, we want justice."
A funeral for the mother and daughter is planned for Sunday in Chicago.
The GoFundMe was created by Bracero's sister. It's raised more than $35,000 with a goal to bring the two women back to Chicago.
The GoFundMe had an update on Monday. It said, "They both are here in Chicago preparing for the wake and soon after will be buried amongst family. Their wishes were to always be with family. Two queens gone too soon. They will be forever missed and never forgotten."