Host of party that preceded fatal car crash on Highway 79 accused of serving car’s driver food, drink, laced with marijuana and cocaine

Gregory Orear

General Manager/Editor

TROY – The teenager who hosted a party that preceded a two-car accident that killed four people is now accused of drugging the driver of one of those vehicles.

According to an amended lawsuit refiled by the attorneys for Thomas and Jennifer Neldon, Jacob Titone allegedly served food and drinks laced with marijuana and cocaine to individuals attending a party he hosted April 29, 2023 near Old Monroe.

One of those attendees, Ashley Harris, drove her Chevrolet Impala head-on into a Hyundai Elantra driven by the Neldon’s daughter, Grace, killing her instantly. Harris and two passengers in her car, one of which was pregnant, also died in the accident.

In the original wrongful death lawsuit filed Aug. 5, the Neldon’s named the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department and four of its officers along with the owners of the home where the party occurred as defendants.

As reported in last week’s Lincoln County Journal, the sheriff’s department responded to the party on Highway C near Old Monroe and within 30 minutes of their arrival, released everyone on their own recognizance without ensuring their sobriety.

However, the alleged criminal behavior of the party’s host first surfaced in the amended lawsuit filed Thursday in the Lincoln County Circuit Court.

“Upon information and belief, defendant Jake Titone represented to the other guests at the home, including to Ashley Harris, that the contents of the food and drink at his premises were not tainted with illegal and/or illicit substances,” the lawsuit states. “That misrepresentation… was material in that the food and/or drinks …was tainted with illicit and/or illegal drugs including marijuana and/or cocaine. As a direct and proximate cause of defendant Jake Titone’s misrepresentation, Ashley Harris unwittingly and unknowingly consumed marijuana and/or cocaine thereby becoming a known and foreseeable danger to others, including Grace.”

Titone is also accused of knowingly allowing Harris in an intoxicated condition to leave the party.

“Titone saw Ashley Harris, saw that she was not in a normal state and was in fact acting abnormally … (and) that …Harris was having difficulty walking, difficulty speaking, and/or difficulty interacting with her environment in a normal and safe manner,” the lawsuit states.  “Upon these observations…he had a duty to render aid to Ashley Harris…Titone breached that duty and … instead allowing her to get behind the wheel of a vehicle and leave his presence despite knowing the danger she posed to others and her unsafe condition that required his assistance.”

Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Wood confirmed serving someone food or drink containing drugs without their knowledge or consent could be charged as one of two felonies, assault or delivery of a controlled substance.

However, considering Titone was a minor at the time of the party, Wood said any criminal prosecution would have to come from the juvenile office.

Based on the evidence, the juvenile office could recommend Titone be charged as an adult. Wood said the statue of limitations on filing charges is three years, or by April 29, 2026.

Coincidentally, on the same day the amended lawsuit was filed, Circuit Judge James Beck was scheduled to hear arguments from attorneys for the sheriff’s department and homeowners to dismiss the original suit.

That hearing was postponed until Dec. 18 at 1:30 p.m.