Manslaughter added to charges in fatal Mitchell crash

The man arrested in connection with the death of 9-year-old Mitchell girl Iszabella Morgan could now be punished with life in prison after a Davison County grand jury indicted him on charges that include first-degree manslaughter.

According to court documents, Michael Sedlmeier, 46, was charged by a grand jury Friday with first-degree manslaughter, drunken driving, aggravated eluding, vehicular homicide, hit-and-run causing death or injury, and reckless driving.

First-degree manslaughter is a felony punishable by life in prison and a $50,000 fine.

The indictment includes all the charges originally filed against Sedlmeier at the time of his arrest, except that the indictment does not include vehicular battery and adds the charge of first-degree manslaughter.

Sedlmeier was arrested March 24 after he was allegedly spotted speeding by Mitchell Police Officer Russ Stevenson. A pursuit ensued, ending when Sedlmeier, who was alone in his vehicle, allegedly ran a stop sign at the intersection of First Avenue and Duff Street and collided with another vehicle carrying six people.

The crash resulted in Morgan’s death and injured the five others.

Police allege Sedlmeier attempted to flee on foot after the crash, but was chased and arrested by Stevenson. He suffered only minor injuries in the crash.

An affidavit written by South Dakota Highway Patrol Trooper Grant Lubbers states Sedlmeier was found to have a blood-alcohol content of 0.206 at the time of the crash. The legal driving limit in South Dakota is 0.08.

Lubbers and Stevenson both testified before the grand jury, as did state Highway Patrol Trooper Michael Petersen, Mitchell Police Sgt. Scott Walton and state Division of Criminal Investigation Agent Chris Konrad.

Sedlmeier’s bond has been increased from $250,000 to $500,000 as a result of the indictment. He remains in custody at the Davison County Jail.

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