Charles Dean Pace, 27, has been charged with four counts of second-degree murder and four counts of operating while intoxicated causing death
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Charles-Pace-mugshot-070926-03cc4525b94f4a78abcd5ab26a9dd353.jpg "Mugshot for Charles Pace")
Credit: Oakland County Jail
NEED TO KNOW
- Charles Dean Pace has been charged with four counts of second-degree murder and four counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death
- Pace was charged following a crash that killed four family members on July 3
- Prosecutors allege that Pace’s blood alcohol level was over three times the legal limit at the time of the crash
A Virginia man has been charged in connection with the deadly drunk driving accident in Oakland County, Mich. that killed a family of four.
Charles Dean Pace was arrested and booked into Oakland County Jail on July 3, according to inmate records viewed by PEOPLE.
Pace, 27, of Glen Allen, Va., was arraigned on Tuesday, July 7, and was formally charged with four counts of second-degree murder and four counts of operating while intoxicated causing death, Fox 5 reported. He was denied bond and remains in custody, per jail records viewed by PEOPLE.
Prosecutors allege that Pace was the driver of a Ford F-250 truck that was heading south on Interstate 75 near East Holly Road in Springfield Township, Mich., on July 1, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said in a statement. At the time of the crash, Pace’s vehicle was allegedly weaving in and out of lanes at speeds above 90 miles per hour.
Pace had a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit, Michigan State Police investigators allegedly found, McDonald said.
The victims were identified as Zakeria Sharon Dodson, 23, Tieree Powell, 24, and their children, Nalani Powell, 3, and Karter Powell, 2, according to McDonald’s statement.
Credit: Click On Detroit | Local 4 | WDIV/YouTube
“Zakeria, Tieree, Nalani and Karter did not die in an accident,” McDonald said in her statement. “They were murdered because of this defendant’s alleged choices – to drive drunk, to drive fast and to drive recklessly – that created an obvious and unnecessary danger.”
A GoFundMe fundraiser to support the Powell family was started to assist with funeral costs.
“Our hearts are shattered as we mourn the unimaginable loss of four beloved family members: Tieree, Zakiera, Nalani, and Karter,” the fundraiser’s description reads.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
The fundraiser describes Tieree as “a devoted father whose greatest joy was spending time with his children” and Zakiera as “a loving and nurturing mother who devoted her life to raising her beautiful children with compassion, strength, and unconditional love.”
As of publication time, the fundraiser has raised nearly $54,000 of its $100,000 goal.
PEOPLE has reached out to GoFundMe to verify this fundraiser and to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.