Family of wrong-way driver crash victims wants answers after suspect stops showing up to court

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Two years after two women were killed by a wrong-way driver on I-43 near Chase Avenue, the driver has been bonded out of jail, then stopped showing up in court. It's an insult to injury, especially for the children of these two mothers.

The family just wants justice, and tonight, on June 30, they have a plea for the wrong-way driver to turn himself in.

"And he was just born, you can see how happy she was," said Michael Bryant, as he looks at pictures of the mother of his children.

Michael Bryant says Lisa Marie Shelander gave him the best gift of his life. But now, their son is in pain.

"Sometimes I can't even think because I'm worried about my 13-year-old son that lost his mother," said Shelander.

Shelander was a passenger in a Toyota driven by Jerry Jay Anderson. According to the criminal complaint, Anderson told police he purposely drove the wrong way on the freeway that night. And, DOT cameras show Anderson didn't even hit the brakes until less than a second before impact.

"Two years later it's terrible. Just on the anniversary, the 24th, I talked to my daughter and she could barely talk to me. She told me she didn't want to be here," said Bryant.

Shelander was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger in the Chevy Cobalt that landed upside down, Rhode Molina, was also killed.

"She was a beautiful young woman. She had ambitions in life, and her life was cut short because of somebody else's actions," said Carolyn Hall, Molina's mother.

Jerry Anderson posted a $30,000 cash bond, then later stopped showing up to court.

"You need to face up and be a man and face up to your responsibilities. You have caused a lot of trouble, a lot of heartache," said Bryant.

Looking to heal their hearts, Michael Bryant thinks of brighter days when Shelander would bake brownies or cupcakes, and the way she adored butterflies.

"When I see a butterfly sometimes I just say 'bye Lisa, we see you,'" said Bryant.

The attorney, who was representing Anderson tells us he's no longer representing him, and he says that no one, not even Anderson's family, says they've been in contact with him this year. There is a warrant out for his arrest.