Maecee Marie Lathers, a social media model, appeared in Miami-Dade bond court on Thursday to answer to four additional charges related to an accident that claimed the lives of two individuals in downtown Miami in mid-August.
She claimed to be high on a party drug and a time traveler, according to the authorities.
The new allegations, according to the prosecution, are the result of a car data search request that revealed Miami Gardens resident Lathers, 24, was traveling at almost 80 mph with her foot firmly on the gas pedal when the accident occurred on August 10.
She is currently charged with two charges of reckless driving resulting in serious bodily injury and reckless vehicular murder.
She first appeared in bond court on Friday after being released from Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she was already facing eight other charges, including two counts of fleeing the scene of a crash that resulted in death.
The findings of a toxicology test will likely determine whether or not the prosecution charges her with DUI manslaughter as well.
Just after 6:45 a.m., according to the police, Lathers—whose license had been revoked since January—blew a red light at Eighth Street and collided with a black Range Rover while driving a white Mercedes-Benz car south on North Miami Avenue.
She was traveling at 57 mph five seconds prior to the collision and accelerated to 78 mph at the point of impact, according to the vehicle’s data recorders, according to a recent arrest report from the Miami Police Department. That section of the street has a 30 mph speed limit.
A Suzuki sedan carrying three persons was then struck by both cars, according to the police. According to the arrest record, the driver of the Suzuki passed away at JMH, and the rear passenger died at the spot.
Family members named Abraham Ismael, the father of a 16-year-old kid, as one of the victims on a GoFundMe page. Juanita Hernández, his partner, suffered injuries in the collision.
In Miami-Dade Judge Mindy Glazer’s final bond court appearance for Lathers on Friday, police stated that she would inform them that she was under the influence of the party drug “tusi” and “that she was from the future and had a crystal ball.”
In a 2023 medical journal article, Tusi, or 2C, is referred to as “a new ketamine concoction” or “pink cocaine.” In that particular year, a special story was created by Local 10 News on the “nightclub narcotic,” which was reportedly the most popular substance found at Miami International Airport at the time.
In addition to imposing a house arrest, a no-drive order, and a $140,000 bond, Glazer referred to Lathers as “an absolute danger to the community” last Friday.
Lathers appeared before Senior Judge Rosa Figarola on Thursday morning to respond to the fresh accusations. Instead of the suicide prevention vest, she was dressed in a plain orange jail jumpsuit this time.
Throughout the entire process, the model, whose Instagram pictures usually feature the upstate New York native posing sensually and with her eyes fixed on the camera, glanced down, giving off a gloomy vibe.
Speaking on Zoom from a hospital parking lot, Lathers’ lawyer Martez Gordon claimed he was unaware of the hearing and that it “came out of the blue.”
Gordon eventually urged Figarola to impose a regular $20,000 bail on top of the existing bond, stating that Lathers had posted her $140,000 bond and was scheduled to “get out either today or tomorrow.”
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The amount and intensity of house arrest were both desired by the prosecution.
The prosecutor declared, “The case is not really a standard case. She killed two people.” She imposed a more stringent kind of home arrest on Lathers and set a slightly higher $26,000 bond.
As of Thursday, Lathers was still housed in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. According to court documents, her arraignment is set for September 3.
