Charges reduced in case of woman drove minivan with kids into ocean

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Prosecutors in Daytona Beach say they've filed attempted second-degree murder and child abuse charges against a pregnant South Carolina woman who drove a minivan carrying her three small children into the Atlantic surf...

Adam Howard

Apr 9, 2014

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Prosecutors in Daytona Beach say they’ve filed attempted second-degree murder and child abuse charges against a pregnant South Carolina woman who drove a minivan carrying her three small children into the Atlantic surf.

Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies initially arrested 32-year-old Ebony Wilkerson of North Charleston, S.C., on three counts of attempted first-degree murder and child abuse charges following the March 4 incident.

The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports prosecutors wouldn’t say why charges were reduced.

Public Defender James Purdy said in a statement he plans to enter not guilty pleas at Wilkerson’s arraignment Thursday. He says he believes evidence will show Wilkerson never intended to harm the children — ages 3, 9 and 10 — or herself.

Beachgoers helped pull the screaming children and Wilkerson from the surf that day.

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