UPDATE:
Angela York pleaded guilty to attempted murder, neglect of a dependent, and attempted killed of a domestic animal in July 2017.
ORIGINAL STORY:
SHELBY COUNTY, Ind. – A caregiver faces several charges including attempted murder after a car crash in near Shelbyville earlier this month.
Angela York, 24, was arrested Thursday. Police say she admitted to planning a murder-suicide for two weeks. On June 22, York drove off the road on I-74, up a grassy hill and over the guardrail on County Road 400 North. Court documents state that York crashed the car in hopes of killing herself and Paula Holtsclaw, a mentally and physically handicapped woman she was paid to care for.
While Yorks did not suffer any serious injuries, Holtsclaw is still in the hospital dealing with seizures, brain bleeds and leg injuries.
Prosecuting attorney Brad Landwerlen said York told police she wanted to take her own life because she was overwhelmed. She added she wanted to kill Holtsclaw so she would not be sent to family care.
According to court documents, York said she spent time carefully planning out the crash.
“Angela York indicated to detective that she had researched various ways of dying and killing on the internet,” Landwerlen said. “Some of them such as stabbing she said were too gruesome. She did quite a bit research on what it would take – what kind of speed it would take – to ramp over 400 North coming off the interstate and roll onto other side with the plan being to break their necks.”
York is now charges with attempted murder, neglect of a dependent, aggravated battery, and criminal recklessness.
“She had a job caring for this lady,” Landwerlen said. “It’s obviously very concerning, very disturbing.”
Police say a family dog was in the car as well which led to the additional charge of attempted killing of a domestic animal. The dog survived the crash.
York appeared in court for her initial hearing Friday afternoon. Her bond was set at $200,000 and she is due back in court on August 31. Her trial is set for November 29 at 8:30 a.m.
