Community Corner

Trial Date Set in Manslaughter Case

Patrick McCormick faces a March 16 trial on charges connected to the August accident which later killed a Creve Coeur teacher.

A March 16 court trial was set Friday for Patrick McCormick, who is charged with DUI manslaughter and assault in the August 26 car crash on Wild Horse Creek Road that killed teacher Janet Esrock and seriously injured her teenage son.

A motion in St. Louis County Circuit Court for a change of judges was granted to McCormick, and the case assigned to Thomas J. Prebil in Division 4.

McCormick, 54, has pleaded not guilty to:

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  • 1st-degree involuntary manslaughter with a vehicle, intoxication, causing death of a non-passenger, and
  • 2nd-degree assault, operating a vehicle intoxicated causing injury.

McCormick's lawyer Friday would not comment on why he filed the motion to change judges. The previous assignment was Judge Maura McShane—the presiding judge of the courts.

, when McCormick's Chevy Tahoe crossed the center line into oncoming traffic, and crashed into Esrock's sedan.

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The elder Her son was seriously injured, but survived, and eventually returned to school with surgery and physical therapy.

She is survived by her husband and three children.


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