LOWNDES COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) — State attorneys are waiting on a ruling from a judge before they can proceed to trial for the case involving Autumn Rae, a Lowndes County 10-year-old who died in a car accident in April 2023.

In the latest filing by driver Jodie Herndon-Everidge’s attorneys, a motion to suppress evidence regarding the blood that was drawn from the defendant in Valdosta was filed. The motion said that for the purposes of the Fourth Amendment, seizing blood and searching blood through testing are separate events.

The Fourth Amendment protects Americans from unreasonable searches and seizures.

Background

Autumn Rae died on Bland Dairy Drive in Lowndes County after officials say she was sitting on the window sill of a vehicle with part of her body outside of the vehicle when it crashed.

The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) determined that the driver of the vehicle, Jodie Herndon-Everidge, was driving under the influence with Autumn Rae, Autumn’s sister and Autumn’s mom, Vangela Vickers inside the vehicle.

Both Everidge and Vickers are facing charges in connection to Autumn’s death.

Everidge was arrested immediately after the incident and released on own recognizance. Vickers was arrested months later in August 2023.

According to WALB’s April 2024 coverage, Everidge and Vickers were both charged with second-degree murder, second-degree cruelty to children, first-degree homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence, second-degree cruelty to children and endangering a child while driving under the influence. Everidge was also charged with tampering with evidence and having an open container.

In May 2024, Everidge and Vickers both pled not guilty.

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