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Shai Lorene Chantele Boyd

Age : 26

Gender : Female

Race : Black

Date : 05/27/2021

Location : US-75 and 286th Road

City : Liberty

County : Jackson

State : Kansas

Agency : Holton Police Department

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Passenger killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

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REASON FOR CHASE: At approximately 10:50 p.m., a Holton Police Department officer attempted to stop a 2009 Dodge Avenger driven by Robert E. Love Jr. in Holton. Love continued northbound on U.S. Highway 75 and the Holton officer initiated a pursuit. Available reporting does not disclose the specific reason police attempted the initial stop.
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NARRATIVE:
On 05/27/2021, at approximately 10:50 p.m., a Holton police officer attempted to stop a 2009 Dodge Avenger in Holton. When the driver continued northbound on U.S. Highway 75, the officer pursued. Shai Lorene Chantele Boyd, 26, and 19-year-old Ciara Evertson were passengers in the Avenger.
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The pursuit continued north out of Holton on U.S. 75. Police followed the Avenger east onto 254th Road and then north on W Road. Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies joined the pursuit after being advised that Holton police were pursuing the vehicle north of the city.
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The pursuit continued onto 286th Road approximately seven miles north of Holton. A Jackson County sheriff’s deputy was pursuing the Avenger westbound as it approached U.S. Highway 75. The Avenger entered the U.S. 75 intersection without stopping and collided with a southbound 2018 Jeep Renegade.
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Boyd was killed in the collision and pronounced dead at the scene. The Avenger’s driver and Evertson sustained suspected serious injuries and were transported to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka. The Jeep’s driver, 41-year-old Sara Ditch, and passenger, 56-year-old Scott Ditch, sustained suspected minor injuries and were also transported for treatment.
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Boyd was a mother of three children. Her family obituary identified her as Shai Lorene Chantele Boyd, born 09/13/1994 in Topeka.
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The Kansas Highway Patrol investigated the fatal collision. The investigation ultimately resulted in criminal charges against the fleeing driver more than a year after Boyd’s death.
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DISPOSITION:
The fleeing driver was Robert Love Jr. In November 2022, prosecutors charged Love with first-degree murder, three counts of aggravated battery while driving under the influence, fleeing or attempting to elude police, and additional misdemeanor and traffic offenses arising from the fatal pursuit.
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Love later pleaded no contest to two counts of aggravated battery while driving under the influence, one count of aggravated battery and one count of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer. Prosecutors dismissed the first-degree murder charge and the remaining misdemeanor and traffic counts as part of the plea agreement.
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In February 2024, Love was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with credit for 383 days already served, followed by 36 months of post-release supervision.
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TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES: 1 fatality, 4 injuries

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.ksnt.com/news/local-news/avoid-the-area-holton-police-pursuit-leads-to-one-dead-4-hospitalized/
https://mscnews.net/local-news/822132/one-dead-following-jackson-co-pursuit
https://www.newschannelnebraska.com/story/44008072/pursuit-of-car-ends-in-fatal-northeast-kansas-collision
https://mscnews.net/local-news/818629/man-bound-over-on-charges-in-fatal-2021-jackson-co-wreck
https://mscnews.net/local-news/816922/man-sentenced-in-fatal-2021-jackson-co-wreck