A San Diego woman who killed a teenager and her mother’s boyfriend in a DUI crash will spend at least three decades behind bars.
Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Carlos Varela sentenced Tayishe Baltys, 46, to 30 to life for the deaths of 15-year-old Jessica Talamante and her mother’s 39-year-old boyfriend, Brian McKee. Baltys, who had a previous DUI conviction, was found guilty and convicted by a jury of two counts of murder and other charges.
Around 10 pm on June 22, 2022, officers responded to National City Street along East Plaza Boulevard after reports of a crash involving pedestrians. Upon arrival, they pronounced Talamante dead at the scene, while McKee was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. However, Talamante’s sister, who was also with the victims, survived the ordeal after a narrow miss being struck by the defendant.
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Baltys had been drinking with colleagues at a Dave & Buster's restaurant in Mission Valley for three hours before she got behind the wheel of her vehicle. Though the restaurant was close to the defendant’s home, due to Baltys being intoxicated, she drove to National City instead.
A few minutes before the crash, Talamante, her sister, and McKee had just departed from a nearby 7-11 and were walking home when Baltys struck the victims. After the crash, the defendant was subjected to a sobriety test that showed Baltys had a blood-alcohol content of about 0.16%, which is two times the legal driving limit in the State of California.
During the trial, Balty’s defense team argued the cause of the accident was not because of the defendant being inebriated but because the road was pitch black and the victims were also dressed in black. They further argued that the victims crossed the road outside of the crosswalk, and people who were not under the influence would also have had the same challenge as the defendant.
As a result, the defense team asked the court to concurrently sentence Baltys to 15 years to life.
Baltys received a probation sentence after her previous conviction in 2020.
The judge disagreed and described the case as highly tragic, with two innocent lives lost.
"You made a series of disastrous mistakes," said Varela reported 10 News.
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