Crime & Safety
Driver in Fatal Palm Desert Crash That Killed 5-Month-Old Charged With Murder, Child Endangerment
The infant was ejected from the car and died at the scene along Route 74, authorities said.
INDIO, CA - Murder and child endangerment charges were filed today against the driver of a car that crashed in Palm Desert on Sunday, killing a 5-month-old girl and leaving her mother hospitalized.
Marcus Green, 51, of Thermal, is accused of the murder of Armani Green, who was a passenger in the 2015 Porsche coupe that crashed on state Route 74 in Palm Desert. Green is also charged with child endangerment, and faces sentence-enhancing allegations for domestic violence causing great bodily injury.
He also faces special allegations for numerous prior convictions in Los Angeles County, including for a November 1995 robbery, a November 1995 assault with a firearm, and stolen property convictions in November 1991 and November 1998.
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His arraignment is scheduled for this afternoon in Indio.
Green was behind the wheel of the Porsche sport coupe when it struck a metal guardrail and crashed down an embankment about 200 feet off state Route 74, according to the CHP.
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In the front passenger seat were 22-year-old Kristen Lauer, as well as the baby, who was on her mother's lap. Armani was ejected from the car and died at the scene.
Both Green and Lauer were injured and were taken to Desert Regional Medical Center. Green was discharged from the hospital and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside on Thursday.
The crash investigation is ongoing, and CHP officials said no further information would be released at this time.
Previous:
- Infant Killed in Palm Desert Cliff Crash
- GoFundMe Account Created for Infant Killed, Woman Hospitalized in Palm Desert Crash
- CHP: Driver in Deadly Palm Desert Crash Arrested on Vehicular Manslaughter, Child Endangerment Charges
A GoFundMe account was created to raise funds for the 5-month-old girl's funeral and help cover medical costs for her 22- year-old mother. To date, nearly $19,000 was raised. Details here.
--City News Service/Image courtesy of GoFundMe account set up by Kristen Lauer's mother, Kim Spates
