Burnsville Man Pleads Guilty To Murder In Deadly Drag-Race Crash

BURNSVILLE, MN — A 19-year-old man admitted in court Tuesday to his role in a drag race that killed 22-year-old Tayler Nicole Garza of Woodbury and 22-year-old Dalton Lee Ford of Burnsville.

Leon Bond, of Burnsville, pleaded guilty to two counts of murder in the third degree (perpetrating eminently dangerous act and evincing a depraved mind) in connection with the fatal crash on County Road 42 in Burnsville on April 4, 2021.

Leon's sentencing and juvenile disposition hearing was set for Jan. 23.

Leon's sister, Camille Dennis-Bond, was convicted by a Dakota County jury in the same crash last month. Camille is scheduled to be sentenced on March 24.

"The deaths of Tayler Garza and Dalton Ford were due to the extremely reckless behavior of both Leon Bond and his sister Camille Dennis-Bond," Dakota County Attorney Kathy Kenna said in a statement.

"My deepest sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Tayler Garza and Dalton Ford for their great loss."

On April 4, 2021, at about 10:30 a.m., Camille was spotted drag racing against her brother, Leon, investigators said. Camille was 19 at the time, and Leon was 17.

Leon's Chrysler 200 was going east on County Road 42 between Burnsville Parkway and Newton Avenue in Burnsville at a high rate of speed, driving side-by-side with Camille's Chevy Malibu, according to police.

The posted speed limit was 50 mph, but Camille and Leon were driving at speeds of 41 to 64 mph over the limit, investigators said.

As the two cars approached Newton Avenue, a Honda CRV pulled into the left turn lane of westbound County Road 42 to cross onto Newton Avenue.

Dalton Ford was driving the Honda and Tayler Garza was sitting in the front-seat passenger seat.

While the Honda crossed County Road 42, Leon t-boned the Honda, according to police. The crash caused the Honda to split in half.

Camille's vehicle just missed striking the Honda, investigators said.

Both Ford and Garza died at the scene, according to police.

Authorities said that according to a witness, Leon's vehicle was going "incredibly fast" when it hit the Honda, which "basically turned into powder and split in half" as a result of the crash.

Investigators later determined that Leon’s vehicle was going 114 five seconds before the crash. It was going between 93 and 100 mph at the point of impact, authorities said.

Investigators said the primary contributing factor to the crash was the excessive speed of Leon's car. A secondary contributing factor was Camille’s vehicle and her racing with Leon, according to police.

Following the crash, the Dakota County Attorney’s Office moved to certify Leon as an adult in the case. However, Judge Joseph Carter denied the motion and ordered the case to proceed under extended juvenile jurisdiction.

The judge's ruling was unsuccessfully appealed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals, county officials said.