MOBILE, Ala. — A tragic chain of events that began with a reported theft in Semmes ended in heartbreak early Tuesday morning, when a vehicle crash claimed the life of one child and left another critically injured. Authorities have arrested 34-year-old Delyshia LeShaun Molette, who now faces manslaughter charges in connection with the deadly wreck.
According to jail records, Molette was booked into the Mobile County Metro Jail around 5:35 a.m., just hours after the crash. Investigators say the ordeal began when officers in Semmes responded to a theft report at a commercial property on Schillinger Road North late Monday evening. When officers located Molette walking nearby on Silver Pine Road, she allegedly resisted arrest — scratching an officer’s eyes and biting his finger during the encounter before fleeing into a wooded area.
Later that night, police spotted Molette’s white Infiniti SUV leaving her home shortly before midnight. Officers attempted a traffic stop as she drove south on Schillinger Road, but Molette refused to pull over, prompting a brief pursuit. Authorities say the Semmes officers disengaged the chase soon after for safety reasons. Minutes later, the vehicle crashed into a light pole at the intersection of Schillinger Road and Howells Ferry Road, inside the Mobile city limits.
Mobile Police Department officers arrived on scene around 12:45 a.m. and found two juvenile male passengers inside the wrecked vehicle. One child was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other was rushed to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries. Molette, who was driving, was not injured. The victims’ names have not yet been released, pending notification of their families.
Authorities say the manslaughter charge stems from the death of the young passenger and the severe injuries suffered by the other. Investigators are working to reconstruct the events leading up to the crash, including Molette’s alleged involvement in the theft and her decision to flee law enforcement. Police also confirmed that she reportedly threatened employees at the business before the theft incident, adding further complexity to the case.
As the investigation continues, both the Semmes Police Department and Mobile Police Department are coordinating efforts to determine the full sequence of events and review pursuit procedures. Meanwhile, a community is mourning the loss of a young life, another child remains in critical condition, and families across Mobile County are left searching for answers in the wake of a night that turned devastatingly tragic.
