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Criminal Records - Most Wanted |
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Profile |
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Name: Jamie Lee Coker
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Age Now: 50 |
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Height: 5'8" |
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Weight: 180 lbs. |
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Wanted for :
Intoxicated Manslaughter, Longview, TX;
Feb 12, 2005
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Location(s) |
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Last Seen : Longview, TX |
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Possible Location : Longview, TX |
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Last Known : Unkown |
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Traits |
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Case Story |
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My Story -- By William M. Jennings |
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As a district attorney in Gregg County, Texas, there's one man William Jennings is determined to get into a courtroom.
I am interested in seeking your assistance in arresting Jamie Lee Coker...Coker was intoxicated and caused a motor vehicle collision which resulted in his wife's death and the death of Martha Wallace. Coker was set for trial in September, and that's when he fled. It's important for me to close this case to help the family.
On February 12, 2005, police say a drunken Jamie Lee Coker of Longview, Texas was driving west on U.S. Highway 80 when his Chevrolet truck crossed the median and struck a Chevrolet Impala. In that brief instant, two people died. Riding with Coker was his wife Sonya, who did not survive the crash. In the Impala, Martha Hillin Wallace, a 74-year-old grandmother riding with her son was also killed.
The responding officer on the scene took a chilling account from a witness to the accident. The witness observed the gray Chevrolet truck barrel into oncoming traffic, where it was struck by another vehicle. The impact was so strong, the truck was flipped upside down. The witness reported that when he went to check on the vehicles, he saw a female under the truck. She was later identified as Sonya Coker, Jamie Lee Coker's wife. |
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Coker Must Be Brought To Face Trial |
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Faced with the possibiltiy of serving two life sentences for intoxicated manslaughter charges, Coker fled his $95,000 bail. The trial had been set for Friday, September 16, 2005.
The victims in this case are good people. One family has lost their grandmother. In dealing with them in this case, they've never sought vengeance, or never been the type that say we want punishment for punishment's sake.
As soon he learned that Coker jumped his bail, his attorney, Thad Davidson, filed a motion to withdraw as counsel. Davidson was quoted in the local Tyler Morning Telegraph saying, "I don't think I can ethically represent him anymore." Davidson also mentioned that his client had been depressed and was on suicide watch while in jail.
As for William Jennings, he's one DA who has a zero tolerance approach to drunken driving.
I think that drinking and driving is a problem everywhere, but I would say that law enforcement works really hard at arresting people. In our state, we have the ability to enhance their punishment, based on their prior convictions. We spend a great amount of time looking at someone's history, and following up.
The first part of 2005, my county had six intoxication manslaughters in the first four months. All those individuals have plead or entered a plea for the charges. Coker was set for trial for September, and that's when he fled.
I take these cases personally. My victims are compassionate, but Mr. Coker has slapped them in the face by what he is doing. Holding him accountable for this is very important. |
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