The crash that killed Auburn announcer Rod Bramblett and his wife, Paula, was a tragedy, but it was not a crime, according to the suspects attorney. Charges against Johnston Edward Taylor, 16, were announced by Auburn police Monday. Johnston Edward Taylor, 17, will appear in court Nov. 2 for the start of the trial, which will begin with jury selection. The Jeep struck the Brambletts SUV to the right of center, according to the crash report. Both he and wife Paula were from Alabama and had graduated from Auburn University. According to. Opelika police began investigating a theft of property, second degree, which allegedly occurred at Best Buy located at 2147 Tiger Town Parkway. You can cancel at any time. Rod Bramblett was known as The Voice of the Auburn Tigers for his work as a sports broadcaster at Auburn since 1993. That incident happened at 7:20 a.m. and the officer observed the defendant accelerating rapidly, the prosecutor wrote. On Feb. 1, the Opelika Police Department began investigating a theft of property, third degree, which occurred at 2570 Enterprise Drive, Hobby Lobby. Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Our website services, content and products are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Many people have taken to social media to express their opinion about Taylor being charged as an adult. At the age of 16, Taylor was the. Taylor was booked into the Lee County Jail with bond set at $60,000. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Taylor -- then a 16-year-old Lee Scott Academy student -- was traveling south in the outside lane on Shug Jordan Parkway approaching West Samford Avenue in his Jeep Laredo. by Josh Rainey. The Brambletts, in a 2017 Toyota Highlander, were stopped in the southbound outside lane of Shug Jordan parkway at a traffic light. Johnston Taylor, 19, is behind bars as of Thursday night at the Lee County Detention Center. You have permission to edit this article. On Jan. 16, 2020, Taylor was indicted by a Lee County grand jury on two counts of manslaughter-recklessin connection with the May 25, 2019 crash that killed the couple. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The teen was observed driving 62 mph in a 35-mph zone on Annaleu Drive near Burke Place. He was charged with two counts of manslaughter in July of that same year, but a judge granted him youthful offender status in April 2021. The impact caused the Jeep to hit a pedestrian crossing signal and a traffic light before coming to a final rest. He is still facing another possible bond revocation. A motion was filed in court Wednesday afternoon to revoke the bond of Johnston Taylor, now 18. Taylor told police that he fell asleep while driving and did not remember what happened, according to the traffic-crash report. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. On July 1, the Alabama Department of Forensic Science reported that Taylors toxicology results tested positive for marijuana. She was pronounced dead in the emergency room from multiple internal injuries. Manslaughter is the correct charge and if convicted he needs to do the time and have a Permanent adult record. Jeff Tommie Sartain posted. "Comes now the defendant, Johnston Edward Taylor, and files this his Motion to Withdraw the request for a Preliminary Hearing in these premises. The Opelika Police Department Narcotics Unit has made 14 arrests within a time span of about three weeks while investigating reports of illega, Auburn Police Departments Narcotics and Investigations Section arrested a Georgia man in connection to a suspected drug overdose death that i. Updated: Apr. Johnston Edward Taylor, the teenage-driver of the car that killed Rod Bramblett and his wife, Paula, on May 25, 2019 has been sentenced, per AL.com. Johnston Edward Taylor (Source: Lee County Sheriff's Office) By WSFA 12 News Staff. #Auburnhttps://t.co/CdGfhOO5Av, Kevin Scarbinsky (@KevinScarbinsky) 26 de mayo de 2019. Please subscribe to keep reading. At the time of the deadly crash, Taylor was driving 89 mph in a 55-mph zone, under the influence of marijuana, and still accelerating, authorities said, when he rammed into the back of the couples SUV. If Taylor makes bond, Jones said, the next step would be a preliminary hearing, which the defendant has the choice to waive or not. The Jeep struck the Brambletts SUV to the right of center, according to the crash report. It's hard to find the right words. Johnston Edward Taylor: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. The inquiry required a search warrant for both vehicles included a review of the scene, the automobile data extracted from each vehicles Electronic Data Recording Module, and accident reconstruction. Learn more about the car accident that ended two lives and ruined another. Taylor thanked me for writing him a citation and was released from the scene. Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes has confirmed to Alabama News Network that the $50,000 bond was revoked this morning for Johnston Edward Taylor, who, Photo from Lee Co. Sheriffs Office The teenager charged with manslaughter in the deaths of Auburn radio announcer Rod Bramblett and his wife Paula was driving more than 30 miles over the 55mph speed limit and accelerating when he slammed into the back of the couples SUV. The family of the Auburn teen retained . Johnston was not impaired at the time of the accident, Spina said. Opelika police began investigating a theft of property, second degree, which allegedly occurred at Best Buy located at 2147 Tiger Town Parkway. The youthful offender status eliminates a jury trial, if there is a trial, and the range of punishment goes from two to 20 years had he been tried as an adult to zero to three years maximum. According to authorities, Taylor was driving between 89 and 91 mph when he slammed into the back of the couples SUV. Auburn police previously ruled out the use of a phone as a contributing factor in the cause of the crash and previously said alcohol was not a factor. He was the university's lead play-by-play announcer for the men's football, basketball and baseball teams. Taylor filed a youthful offender status application in July 2020 and had his hearing on the application Tuesday, according to court records. Johnston Edward Taylor, 16, was arrested on July 1 by the Lee County Sheriffs Office for the May 25 accident in which killed the couple. He was named National Broadcaster of the Year by Sports Illustrated in 2013. The defendant received 60-90 days residential rehab treatment in Nashville, Tennessee and has been confined to his home since then by agreement to reset bond,' he wrote. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Johnston Edward Taylor, charged as an adult with two counts of manslaughter-reckless in connection with the crash that killed Rod and Paula Bramblett, is facing a another bond revocation after a . Due to the confidential status of youthful offender proceedings, his attorney, Tommy Spina, declined to comment on the ruling. The Brambletts vehicle was pushed into the intersection and through the opposing lanes of traffic before coming to a final rest on the curb. Sign up for the Auburn Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. He said Taylor told authorities he was on his way home from the lake after spending the day with a friend and her family, that he was tired and fell asleep, remembered only a loud crash, his vehicle spinning and smoke everywhere. Johnston Edward Taylor is a 16-year-old who was charged with the killings of Rod Bramblett and Paula Bramblett. Taylor -- then a 16-year-old Lee Scott Academy student -- was traveling south in the outside lane on Shug Jordan Parkway approaching West Samford Avenue in his Jeep Laredo. Taylor told first reponders that he had no recollection of what happened because he said he fell asleep at the wheel. According to an order issued by Circuit Judge Jacob Walker III, attorney Tommy Spina and Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes agreed on terms of Taylors release. It was confirmed that the Brambletts were both wearing seatbelts. The Brambletts vehicle was pushed into the intersection and through the opposing lanes of traffic before coming to a final rest on the curb. Yes the situation is so sad. The objection said the state insisted on a surprise drug screening at Taylors youthful offender hearing that began Tuesday, and the results came back negative for both drugs and alcohol. Taylor, who is 19 years old now, was 16 at the time of the crash that occurred May 25, 2019. Freeze coached many great receivers during his time at Ole Miss, and wants to do the same at Auburn. Additionally, the judge ordered, Taylor must follow a strict 14-day COVID-19 quarantine. Taylor became a suspect after APD and members of the Alabama Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force initiated an investigation on June 7. Paula Bramblett, 53, was airlifted from the scene but had to be diverted to East Alabama Medical Center due to the severity of her injuries. Johnston Edward Taylor, charged as an adult with two counts of manslaughter-reckless in connection with the crash that killed Rod and Paula Bramblett, is facing another bond revocation after a motion was filed Wednesday, court documents show. He was held in Lee County Jail on a $60,000 bond. Lee County Circuit Judge P.B. The impact caused the Jeep to hit a pedestrian crossing signal and a traffic light pole before coming to a final rest. Absolutely horrible news out of Alabama tonight. by Rod Bramblett, 52, who was the driver of the Highlander, was airlifted to UAB Hospital in Birmingham, where he later died from a closed head injury. Rod Bramblett, 52, who was the driver of the Highlander, was airlifted to UAB Hospital in Birmingham, where he later died from a closed head injury. Rod Bramblett was known as the Voice of the Auburn Tigers. He served as the lead play-by-play announcer for the mens football, basketball and baseball teams. Authorities said the teen was speeding and tested positive for marijuana: https://t.co/eAJn7iSvFD pic.twitter.com/f9fjTjzlf8, AL.com sports (@aldotcomSports) July 2, 2019. The teenager involved in the crash that killed Rod Bramblett and his wife, Paula, has been arrested. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The Brambletts, in a 2017 Toyota Highlander, were stopped in the southbound outside lane of Shug Jordan parkway at a traffic light. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Auburn Police say theyve arrested and charged 16-year-old Johnston Edward Taylor with two counts of manslaughter for the May 25th crash on Shug Jordan Parkway at West Samford Avenue. He also is prohibited from use of any social media and must continue mental health and drug treatment therapy. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Taylor was developed as a suspect and, after a search warrant and the collection of evidence, he was arrested and charged. McLauchlin, a circuit judge, said. We trust that in time there can be healing for parties directly affected by this terrible tragedy., Rod Bramblett wreck warrant: Teen was driving 30 mph over speed limit. Taylor asked if officers wanted to see it, and we declined, an officer wrote. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Taylor told police that he fell asleep while driving and did not remember what happened, according to the traffic-crash report. The Auburn Police Division said in a statement that Johnston Edward Taylor of Auburn was arrested at his home on Monday. The status means the maximum sentence he can serve is three years while it also eliminated a jury trial. Heavy.comreports that the fatal crash happened just after 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 25. Officers found empty cigar packets and shake, small pieces of marijuana, on the floorboard. It is unknown if Taylor was considered impaired at the time of the accident. It was just after 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, 2019 when the Brambletts were killed. Court records indicate that he was taken to the rehab facility before Christmas 2019. The youthful offender status will eliminate a jury trial, if there is a trial, and the range of punishment goes from two to 20 years had he been tried as an adult to zero to three years maximum. Paula Bramblett, 53, was airlifted from the scene but had to be diverted to East Alabama Medical Center due to the severity of her injuries. He is charged as an adult. He said that was the last contact the Lee County Sheriffs Office had with Taylor until this week. He can be reached via email at [email protected] or on Twitter @rich_silva18. He was initially released on $50,000 bond. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). He was charged under 12-15-204 of the Alabama Criminal code, Acts for which person who has attained age 16 shall be charged, arrested, and tried as an adult; removal of person from jurisdiction of juvenile court., WLTZ reported that Taylor has deep ties to the Auburn community and even closer connection to law enforcement.. Taylor was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes is asking that Johnston Edward Taylor's bond be revoked since he has gotten two speeding tickets and one reckless driving citation since the deadly accident seven months ago. Powered by. At the time of the deadly crash, Taylor was driving 89 mph in a 55-mph zone, under the influence of marijuana, and still accelerating, authorities said, when he rammed into the back of the couples SUV. Auburn police announced the arrest of 16-year-old Johnston Edward Taylor. . The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. At the time of the accident, the defendant was a 16-year-old teenager with no prior criminal history, who had smoked or used marijuana and had been diagnosed with marijuana use disorder, the order granting Taylor youthful offender status signed by McLauchlin reads. Police said the arrest stems from an investigation that began on June 7 and was initiated by the APD and members of the Alabama Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. He has to live with this the rest of his life mentally and instead of therapy you are throwing A KID in prison for manslaughter. Tommy Spina, who represented Taylor, said that the sentence was fair and balanced in light of all facts and circumstances.. Taylor was driving southbound in the outside laneof Shug Jordan Parkway, headed toward West Samford Avenue minutes before the crash happened. People share memories, thoughts on Rod Bramblett. The teen was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Under the conditions, Taylor must remain on 24/7 lockdown as his mothers home and must wear an ankle monitor. A toxicology analysis report from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences indicated a blood sample from Taylor contained THC. However, it'sunknown if Taylor was considered impaired at the time of the accident. Paula Bramblett was also employed by the university in the IT department. The defendant says when he last looked at the speedometer, he was going 60 to 65 mph,' the judge wrote. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The grand jury on Jan. 16 issued the manslaughter indictments. See additional information. judge in April of 2021 granted Taylor youthful offender status, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Rod Bramblett always did. UPDATE: On July 1, 2019, 16-year-old Johnston Edward Taylor was arrested and charged with two counts of manslaughter in the deaths of Rod and Paula Bramblett. The teen driver in the crash that killed Rod and Paula Bramblett has been charged with manslaughter. She was pronounced dead in the emergency room at 7:50 p.m. Taylor was also treated at East Alabama Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries. Opelika police have arrested an Opelika High School teacher under a charge of soliciting a sex act with a student under the age of 19. Paula Bramblett, 53, was airlifted from the scene but had to be diverted to East Alabama Medical Center due to the severity of her injuries. The judge noted in his order that Taylor had only had his drivers license for three months when the deadly crash happened. None of this justifies what happened; however, it does lend itself to treatment as a Youthful Offender.. A judge in April of 2021 granted Taylor youthful offender status in the manslaughter cases. Teen Johnston Edward Taylor Charged With Killing Auburn University Sports Announcer Rod Bramblett And Wife Paula, A post shared by Rod Bramblett (@voiceofautigers), Man Tells Former Classmate 'You Probably Deserved It' After He Confronts Him For Being Mean In School, A Woman Changed Her Name In Her Fianc's Phone To His Ex's Name & Recorded His Questionable Reaction To Her Text, Server Says He Kept 'Rude' Customer's Gucci Bag & Versace Sunglasses After She Left It At The Restaurant. Investigators. Taylor told officers that he had hit a cat with the vehicle and it was nasty and he was trying to get it out from the undercarriage. Rest In Peace to them but that CHILD does not need to go to prison, Abbie Newman wrote on Facebook. First and foremost, there are no words that I could say, on behalf of my client and his family that would adequately express the remorse and contrition that this child and his family feel for the loss caused to the Bramblett family as a result of this tragic accident, Spina said. A youthful offender in the state of Alabama is classified as a person under the age of 21. McLauchlin granted the now 18-year-old Taylor with youthful offender status on April 13. Taylors previous bond was revoked in December 2019 due to traffic citations for speeding and reckless driving he was issued in November 2019. The order granting Taylor youthful offender status was signed by Judge P.B. Auburn police have charged 16-year-old Johnston Edward Taylor as an adult with two counts of manslaughter. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Taylor was taken to Lee County Jail where bond was set at $50,000. 2023byTango Publishing Corporation All Rights Reserved. The Brambletts, in a 2017 Toyota Highlander, were stopped in the southbound outside lane of Shug Jordan parkway at a traffic light. She was pronounced dead in the emergency room from multiple internal injuries. A post shared by Rod Bramblett (@voiceofautigers) on Jul 1, 2015 at 10:46am PDT. Johnston Edward Taylor is a16-year-old Alabama native who is being charged as an adult and facing two counts of manslaughter. He was booked into jail on Thursday, June 16th, 2022. The Jeep struck the Brambletts SUV to the right of center, according to the crash report. Lee County District Attorney Pro Tem Jessica Ventiere declined to comment on the case or motion. It was just after 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, 2019 when the Brambletts were killed. All rights reserved (About Us). The speed limit there was 55 mph. The affidavit in the case released Tuesday states the report from ALEAs Traffic Homicide Unit data states that Taylors Jeep Laredo was accelerating from a speed of 89 mph to 91 mph in a 55-mph zone when the crash happened. Court records made public Tuesday provide more detail in what led to the felony charges against the Lee. The Brambletts vehicle was pushed into the intersection and through the opposing lanes of traffic before coming to a final rest on the curb. The posted speed limit for the section of Shug Jordan Parkway where the crash occurred is 55 mph. THC is the primary psychoactive component of marijuana and is indicative of recent usage of marijuana at the time of the collision on May 25, the affidavit reads. Taylor was indicted on two counts of manslaughter-reckless by a Lee County grand jury on Jan. 16, 2020. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. An investigation also found the teen "was traveling at an excessive rate of speed, well over the posted 55-mphspeed limit, when the crash occurred.". Charged with manslaughter on the same day as the accident, Taylor was driving a Jeep Laredo at a speed of upwards of 90 mph when he struck the Brambletts in the southbound lane of Shug Jordan Parkway at the West Samford Avenue intersection. Police say Taylor's arrest stems from an investigation by Auburn. Monday marks a sad anniversary for Auburn University sports. In a preliminary hearing, the state presents probable cause to a judge. MORE ABOUT THE CASE:Teen charged in crash that killed Rod and Paula Bramblett granted youthful offender status, BRAMBLETT:Auburn has lost its voice, but memories of Rod Bramblett will never be forgotten, At the time of the accident, the defendant was a 16-year-old teenager with no prior criminal history, who had smoked or used marijuana and had been diagnosed with marijuana use disorder, the order signed in 2021 by P.B. On Feb. 1, the Opelika Police Department began investigating a theft of property, third degree, which occurred at 2570 Enterprise Drive, Hobby Lobby. A private burial service for the Bramblett family followed the memorial. A motion was filed in court Wednesday afternoon to revoke the bond of Johnston Taylor, now 18. OMG so heartbreaking to read about this tragic car accident that took the lives of Paula & Rod Bramblett the legendary voice for years of @AuburnTigers Prayers go out to his family & friends plus for others that were injured . Rod Bramblett, 52 and the driver of the Highlander, was airlifted to UAB Hospital in Birmingham, where he later died from a closed head injury. On Monday, Auburn police announced that they had arrested 16-year-old Johnston Edward Taylor on two counts of manslaughter in the incident and that he was being . He also chronicled facts of the case, which included that Taylor was traveling at 90 to 80 miles per hour and in the five seconds before the crash, the vehicle was not slowed or steered. He was held on a $50,000 bond but has since been released. The impact caused the Jeep to hit a pedestrian and a traffic light pole before coming to a final rest. Latest news and commentary on Johnston Edward Taylor including photos, videos, quotations, and a biography. McLauchlin, a retired Dale County Judge appointed to Taylors case by the Alabama Supreme Court after numerous Lee County judges recused themselves from presiding over the case, documents show. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). A youthful offender in the state of Alabama is classified as a person under the age of 21. He was charged as an adult, but Taylor was granted youthful offender status on April 13, 2021, at the age of 18, after applying for it in July of 2020. Teen arrested for Rod & Paula Bramblett deaths. Please consult your doctor before taking any action. Rod Bramblett was loved by all of Auburn University. In an unfortunate event your identity was stolen, here are nine tips to help you recover your identity, according to the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). While the Brambletts were stopped at a red light, Taylor rear-ended their Toyota Highlander with his Jeep. According to Auburn police, Johnston Edward Taylor, 19, has been charged with six counts of possession of child pornography. The Auburn teen charged in connection with the deaths of Rod and Paula Bramblett in a vehicle crash when he was 16 years old is facing having his bond revoked a second time. Opelika police have arrested an Opelika High School teacher under a charge of soliciting a sex act with a student under the age of 19. 53-year-old RodBramblett and his 52-year-old wife Paula Bramblett diedon May 25th after a big accident where someonerear-ended their car. You have permission to edit this article. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The Jeep struck the Brambletts SUV to the right of center, according to the crash report. All rights reserved (About Us). Birmingham attorney Tommy Spina has been retained to represent Taylor and spoke with AL.com on Wednesday evening. Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Speeding and on a drug. He was then released from the facility in 2020 and his bond was re-instated with multiple bond conditions. The teen was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. RIP to a humble yet powerful voice. Taylor was taken into custody and booked into the Lee County Jail. He was arrested by police on Thursday. 0:00 5:34 AUBURN Johnston Edward Taylor, the teen charged in the 2019 crash that killed Auburn radio broadcaster Rod Bramblett and his wife, Paula, was admitted to Lee County Jail on. He also was prohibited from use of any social media and must continue mental health and drug treatment therapy.