Defendant Accepts Plea Deal in Vehicular Homicide Case
A Lincoln woman accused of vehicular homicide has reached a plea deal with the state, despite her attorney’s claim that she had been drugged prior to the three-vehicle accident on Highway 136 in 2021 that left a Deshler man dead and two others injured.
Raquel A. Bredemeier, 31, of Lincoln, appeared in Jefferson County District Court on Thursday, December 7, 2023, with her attorney, Carlos Monzon. David J.A. Bargen was the presiding judge.
This was the last day for a plea deal. A trial was scheduled for February 20 to 22, 2024.
The defendant was originally charged with unintentional motor vehicle homicide, a class 2A felony which carries a possible penalty of 20 years in prison, as well as DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs), a class W misdemeanor punishable by 60 days in jail, a $500 fine and a six-month driver’s license revocation, and driving left of the center line, an infraction.
In November of this year, the state amended its case against Bredemeier to add a new charge: manslaughter, also a class 2A felony. The defendant was arraigned on the new charge in Jefferson County District Court on Thursday, November 3, 2023.
In accordance with the plea agreement, Bredemeier pleaded No Contest to motor vehicle homicide. The remaining charges were dismissed.
The Accident
Tuesday night, January 20, 2021, shortly before 8:00 p.m., Jefferson County emergency crews were dispatched to the scene of a three-vehicle accident at the intersection of Highway 136 and 571st Avenue. A dispatcher informed responders that there were injuries and one of the vehicles was on fire. Shortly after, the dispatcher said the vehicle was “completely engulfed.”
According to the Sheriff’s Office, an investigation of the scene determined two vehicles traveling westbound on Highway 136, one following the other. A third vehicle, driven by Bredemeier, traveling eastbound, crossed the center line and struck both vehicles.
One of the westbound drivers was identified as Samuel Lindley and pronounced deceased at the scene. Bredemeier and the other driver, Hailey Gehle of Deshler, were transported from the scene by ambulance.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Ambulance District 33 and Jefferson County Fire and Rescue were all summoned to the scene. Plymouth Fire and Rescue, Diller Fire and Rescue were also called out to the scene as mutual aid. Highway 136 was closed for several hours as the scene was cleared and investigated.
The Nebraska State Patrol was called to the scene to conduct an accident reconstruction.
Involuntary Intoxication Defense
Had the case gone to trial, Bredemeier’s attorney indicated he would have presented a defense of “involuntary intoxication.”
Blood drawn from Bredemeier, taken after the accident, indicated a blood alcohol level of .106, above the legal limit. Monzon said the blood draw had been sent to an independent laboratory. In 2022, Monzon received a toxicology report from the University of St. Louis and he indicated the results detected the presence of a “roofie,” slang for a date-rape drug. Monzon alleged that a drink consumed by Bredemeier prior to the accident had been spiked with such a drug.
However, according to Monzon, his client opted to accept the plea deal rather than going to trial, “She wants to take advantage of the plea compromise.”
Sentencing
Judge Bargen ordered a PSI (Pre-Sentencing Investigation). Sentencing is scheduled for Feburary 1, 2024.
The defendant remains free on a $25,000 (10 percent) bond at this time.
