In a downtown Los Angeles courtroom, jurors returned their verdict at midday Friday, October 2: former traveling nurse Nicole Linton, guilty on all six counts of second-degree murder, facing life in prison. Deliberations began at 9 a.m. and lasted about three hours — ending a wait of more than four years for the families of the August 4, 2022 crash. Sentencing is set for December 1.
On the afternoon of August 4, 2022, Linton drove her Mercedes-Benz through a red light at the intersection of La Brea and Slauson avenues in Windsor Hills, South Los Angeles, at about 130 mph (209 km/h), plowing into traffic and setting off a fiery chain collision. Nine vehicles were involved; nine other people were injured, including Linton herself.
The community calls the dead the "Slauson Six." Asherey Ryan, 23, was eight and a half months pregnant and on her way to a prenatal appointment; in the car were her 11-month-old son, Alonzo Quintero, and her 23-year-old boyfriend, Reynold Lester, the father of her unborn child. Their Jaguar was split "in half" — Alonzo was thrown through the air and landed at a stranger's feet outside a nearby gas station. The unborn baby, whom the family planned to name Armani Lester, did not survive. The other two victims, 43-year-old Nathesia Lewis and her 38-year-old friend Lynette Noble, were in a Nissan.
The whole trial came down to what was happening in Linton's mind when she hit the gas. Second-degree murder required prosecutors to prove implied malice — that she knew her actions were dangerous to human life and did them anyway.
Prosecutors said there was no evidence of a seizure. Linton had left her shift early at Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center that afternoon, was upset at work and driving angrily, and was off her medication. Deputy District Attorney Antonella Nistorescu played video of the crash for jurors: "What you know now … is this was an entirely preventable act. She chose to do this. She did it knowingly and, most importantly, she was conscious." Prosecutors also cited her driving record — three prior speeding violations and two earlier collisions she caused — and a retired California Highway Patrol inspector who testified he found nothing wrong with the Mercedes.
The defense said she suffered a seizure, a medical emergency that left her unable to stop the car. She was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, not on her phone, not racing anyone, not angry with anyone. Her nursing license has been suspended by court order.
The victims' families sat through weeks of trial. Jasmond Nelson, sister of Nathesia Lewis, called the verdict "a long journey": "It's been extremely hard, so much grief. And even though we have justice, grief doesn't change. It doesn't stop. So we will still miss our loved ones." Sha'seana Kerr, Ryan's sister, said she forgave Linton back in 2022 — and after the verdict, she was thankful justice had come.
On day one of the trial, family members ran out of the courtroom in tears during the presentation of graphic evidence.