Woman accused of running over, killing boyfriend, pleads not guilty

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A Texarkana woman accused of running over and killing her boyfriend while driving drunk entered pleas of not guilty Tuesday to murder and felony DWI.

Tammy Dawn Tholl, 42, was arraigned before 102nd District Judge Bobby Lockhart Tuesday afternoon at a hearing at the Bi-State Justice Center. Deborah Moore of the Bowie County Public Defenders Office entered pleas of not guilty on Tholl’s behalf.

Tholl charges stem from the Sept. 27 death of 61-year-old Mark Anthony Murray. At the time of Murray’s death, Tholl was charged with intoxication manslaughter. But prior drunk driving convictions allowed a Bowie County grand jury to indict her for murder as well as for the felony offense of driving while intoxicated, third or more.

Felony DWI is punishable by two to ten years in prison. Murder is punishable by five to 99 years or life.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Tholl left the scene after allegedly running over Murray with a white 2012 Nissan Maxima on Country Paradise Circle in Walke Village. Texas Dept. of Public Safety Trooper Chad Turner arrested Tholl after finding her at her estranged husband’s home in Texarkana Texas.

Tholl allegedly failed field sobriety tests and showed a .13 blood alcohol level on a portable breathalyzer test, putting her well above the .08 level at which drivers are considered impaired. A sample of Tholl’s blood was collected at a local hospital and sent to the state crime lab for testing.

Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp said the results of the blood testing have not yet been received from the state crime lab. During a discussion of possible trial dates for Tholl’s case next year, Moore said there is a possibility that the case could be resolved with a plea agreement. Moore said she has received an offer from the state but that she needs time to discuss and review the proposed plea offer with Tholl.

Lockhart scheduled the case for a pretrial hearing in January. Tholl remains in the Bowie County jail.

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