Jury selection began yesterday in Carroll County Superior Court for the retrial of A.J. Scott, the current mayor of Buchanan, Georgia, who is facing charges stemming from a fatal 2015 crash during his tenure as a Georgia State Trooper. According to WALB, Scott is charged with two counts of vehicular homicide in the second degree and reckless driving, following the incident which resulted in the deaths of two teenagers, Kylie Lindsey and Isabella Chinchilla, and injured two others.
The prosecution alleges that Scott was traveling at speeds exceeding 90 mph in a zone designated for 45 mph, without employing lights or sirens, when he broadsided the vehicle carrying the four teenagers. Following the crash, Scott was removed from the State Patrol. The attempt for justice was stalled when Scott’s first trial in 2019 concluded with a mistrial declaration, after accusations that the district attorney’s office withheld evidence surfaced, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
In the intervening years, A.J. Scott has been elected as the mayor of Buchanan, despite controversy. An outside investigation found that Scott had on multiple occasions abused his authority by demanding police rides when he was too drunk to drive. Yet, this revelation did not prompt the four-member city council to take action regarding his role as mayor.
Reflecting the loss and the enduring battle for accountability, Leslie Woods, mother of Isabella Chinchilla, expressed her distrust in the former trooper, now mayor, in 2023. "He's not fit to be a mayor," Woods told FOX 5 Atlanta, articulating a narrative of disbelief and a lack of justice served thus far. It’s said, touched by the death of their daughters, both Woods and Kellie Lindsey have been keeping close tabs on Scott's public office and missteps following the crash that claimed their children's lives.
The victims' families have been advised against speaking to the media for the duration of the trial. Still, in an interview last year, Kellie Lindsey shared her fears about the possibility of another tragedy, "I’m just afraid it’s going to take him killing someone else before he’s stopped," Lindsey said, as FOX 5 Atlanta released the statement. If convicted on all charges, Scott could face up to 30 years in prison.
