A Nebraska man indicted for manslaughter in connection to a fatal wreck on Interstate 24 in Caldwell County in November 2019 appeared for a pretrial conference in Circuit Court Tuesday afternoon.
Jaryonlee Wells of Omaha is facing second-degree manslaughter, DUI with aggravating circumstances and being a persistent felony offender.
Wells and his defense attorney Marc Wells appeared virtually before Circuit Judge Woody Woodall Tuesday afternoon. The defense attorney advised the judge he is still awaiting discovery from the Public Advocacy Office with Jason Pfiel replying he would make sure he received the discovery.
click to download audioJudge Woodall scheduled another pretrial conference for the afternoon of February 2nd at 2:15.
The charges against Jaryonlee Wells stem from November 20, 2019, when state police investigated a single-vehicle wreck in the eastbound lanes on I-24 near the 56-mile marker. State police said the investigation revealed Wells abruptly exited the interstate and crashed into several trees. Police reported his passengers, 22-year old Heidi Renter of Omaha, Nebraska was pronounced dead at the scene. Jaryonlee and another passenger, one-year old Elyonha Wells, also of Omaha, were transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. Once he was released from the hospital, Wells was arrested on a warrant by Kentucky State Police.
Wells is being held in the Christian County Jail.