1 Convicted Of Murder In Crash Killing Woodbury Woman, Burnsville Man

BURNSVILLE, MN — A 20-year-old Burnsville woman was convicted by a Dakota County Jury Wednesday in a deadly drag-racing crash, Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena announced.

Camille Dennis-Bond was found guilty of murder, criminal vehicular homicide, criminal vehicular operation resulting in great bodily harm, and careless driving. The jury deliberated for about seven hours, officials said.

The April 2021 crash killed 22-year-old Tayler Nicole Garza, of Woodbury, and 22-year-old Dalton Lee Ford, of Burnsville

"The deaths of Tayler Garza and Dalton Ford were due to the extremely reckless behavior of Camille Dennis-Bond and Leon Bond engaging in the inherently dangerous act of drag racing," Keena said in a statement.

"I thank the jury for their recognition of this by the verdicts they delivered today. 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 by several witnesses 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.

Leon's juvenile trial is currently scheduled for Jan. 23 in Hastings.

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.