2 Charged with Murder in Deadly Eagan Street Racing Crash

Jul 25

Two people are facing murder and vehicular homicide charges in connection with a street racing crash last month in Eagan that killed two teenagers.

Prosecutors have charged 24-year-old Melody Lynn Little, of West Saint Paul, and 20-year-old Jordan John Weiland, of White Bear Lake, with two counts each of third-degree murder and criminal vehicular homicide.

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According to the criminal complaint, the crash happened just before 11:30 p.m. on June 14 near the intersection of Highway 149 and Highway 55. Eagan police arrived to find a Jeep SUV, a Honda sedan and a Dodge SUV all involved in the crash.

Officers began lifesaving measures on the two occupants of the Jeep — 19-year-old Reed Robert Schultz and 18-year-old Finnian Thomas Cronin — who were unresponsive at the scene. Both were taken to the hospital, where Schultz died shortly after arrival. Cronin remained hospitalized and died from his injuries on July 1.

The Honda was found unoccupied, but police later learned Weiland had left the scene in a separate vehicle. He was located at a hospital with injuries. Little, who was driving the Dodge, was not hurt. Both admitted to being part of a group of five to ten vehicles that had gathered earlier in South Saint Paul for what they described as a “car meet-up.”

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Investigators reviewed MnDOT traffic camera footage showing the Jeep, Honda and Dodge driving south on Highway 149 toward Highway 55 at a high rate of speed. Seconds later, the Jeep and Honda lost control, crossed a median and the Jeep struck a traffic pole. The force of the crash split the vehicle in two.

Cell phone video taken just before the crash reportedly captured the speedometers of the Honda and Dodge showing speeds around 110 miles per hour.

Both Little and Weiland were booked into the Dakota County jail Thursday afternoon and they were set for an initial court appearance Friday morning. Prosecutors are seeking $400,000 bail for each defendant.

If convicted, each third-degree murder charge carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. Each criminal vehicular homicide charge carries a maximum of 10 years.