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O'Keefe Now Facing Two Counts Of OWI Causing Death

Last updated on Friday, October 10, 2014

(BIRDSEYE) - New charges have been filed in connect with the death of a Dubois County woman.

22-year-old Jeylyn Staggs died from her injures after she jumped from a moving SUV near Birdseye Friday evening.

Staggs had jumped from a 1999 Jeep Cherokee allegedly driven by 22-year-old Tyler O'Keefe.

The Cherokee was found parked nearby but O'Keefe had fled the scene.

He was located a short time later in his garage and arrested, but refused to submit to tests to check his level of intoxication and/or drug use. Officers secured a search warrant for a blood draw, which showed O'Keefe had marijuana, meth and opiates in his system.

Staggs, who suffered severe head injuries, was taken to Memorial Hospital and then transferred to St. Mary's Medical Center by helicopter.

O'Keefe was jailed on charges of operating while intoxicated, Class A misdemeanor, and leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury, a Level 3 felony.

The Dubois County Prosecutors Office has since reviewed the case and is amending the charges to two level-5 felony counts of OWI causing death.

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