A 47-year-old unlicensed motorist spent the evening drinking booze, at times while driving, before she fatally ran over her boyfriend and sped away from their northwestern Minnesota home, authorities allege.
Beth R. Windus, of Gonvick, was charged Tuesday in Polk County District Court with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide in connection with the death late Friday of Jonathon N. Sundquist, 51, outside the couple's home on 420th Avenue SE. Windus remains jailed without bail before a Sept. 10 hearing.
A preliminary breath test given to Windus by a sheriff's deputy soon after Sundquist's death measured her blood alcohol content at 0.162%, more than twice the legal limit for driving in Minnesota.
She acknowledged drinking four beers, a mixed vodka drink and a shot of whiskey in the time before hitting Sundquist, the charges read. She also admitted drinking beer while driving around with Sundquist that evening, the criminal complaint continued.
Windus' driver's license was revoked in 2016. She was on probation at the time of this incident and was under court order not to drink alcohol or visit bars or liquor stores.
According to the complaint:
A sheriff's deputy called to the home about 11:55 p.m. found Sundquist on the ground at the end of the driveway. He was bleeding from the head and had no pulse. A doctor at the scene declared Sundquist dead.
Windus, who works at the Sportsman's Lodge in nearby Pine Lake, drove to her boss' home. Her boss told authorities that Windus appeared frightened and said, "It's bad."
