Muskego Business Owners' Family Sees Latest Ploy As Stall Tactic

The latest chapter in the proceedings against Kelly Duke, the 17-year-old who struck Ed and Jean Thaves' car, killiing them on New Year's Day, has family members enraged and frustrated.

Duke is charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, and a recent appearance in court by the defendent was supposed to be a bail hearing, but the defense instead motioned for a mental evaluation instead of the expected motion to lower Duke's $200,000 bail.

"He ran from the scene, made it home two miles from the scene, and asked for a new Defense Attorney as early as January 24th, that suddenly now he's supposedly incompetent," Edwin Thaves, son of Edwin, Sr., told a reporter for WTMJ.

Duke told police he was speeding, hit a median and went airborne, crashing into the Thaves car, killing them instantly. He then fled the scene on foot. When authorities apprehended Duke about four hours later, he was still drunk at more than twice the legal limit, according to police reports.

The family thinks this Defense is stalling, and has been circulating petitions, appealing to the judge not to reduce bail, and so far had collected 660 signatures.

Inquiries to SC Chemical to locate the online petition have been made, and when a link becomes available, we will update the story.