An Adair County man was found guilty of two counts of wanton murder stemming from a crash on Highway 55 in Taylor County last year that left two people dead.
Allen Glen Yates of Columbia was found guilty on the charges following a trial in Taylor Circuit Court. In April 2024, Yates was operating a Ford F-150 northbound on Highway 55 in Taylor County when he crossed into the southbound lane and into the emergency lane and struck a vehicle operated by 39-year-old Tracy York-Murrell of Columbia.
York-Murrell was pronounced dead at the scene and a passenger in Yates’ vehicle, 67-year-old Karen Bishop, passed away a few days later from injuries sustained in the crash. Another passenger in Murrell’s vehicle, 33-year-old Cameron Murrell, was injured in the collision.
Prosecutors say Yates had a significant amount of methamphetamine in his system at the time of the crash.
The jury recommended a life sentence for each count of wanton murder and three years for possession of a controlled substance.
He will appear in court for final sentencing next month.
A full story with more details about the trial can be found here.
