A Lake Orion woman, accused of a multi-city vehicular rampage that left 11 people injured, is set to undergo a mental competency examination, officials confirmed this week. Rachele Ricklefs, 30, allegedly went on a hit-and-run spree on the evening of Sept. 26, striking pedestrians in Royal Oak, Hazel Park, and Warren, and also colliding with police vehicles in Clawson.
According to The Detroit News, the suspect was referred for a competency exam by a Warren district court judge. The judge has also scheduled a Dec. 2 hearing to review the findings of the evaluation and the status of Ricklefs' case, Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido stated, "Before this case can proceed, the court must determine whether the defendant is competent to stand trial."
In a scenario that seems plucked from a detective thriller, the alleged hit-and-run sequence began around 8:15 p.m. when Ricklefs reportedly hit a man on a bicycle in Royal Oak and continued into the night with multiple incidents across several cities. Ricklefs is accused of hitting other pedestrians and engaging with the police in a confrontational manner, including resisting arrest and attacking an officer by biting and kicking. FOX 2 Detroit notes that the Warren Police Department suggested Ricklefs may have been undergoing a schizophrenic episode during the events.
Ricklefs faces 18 felony charges, including 10 counts of assault with intent to murder, all of which carry serious legal consequences. As reported by the Detroit Free Press, the assault with intent to murder charges alone are punishable by up to life in prison. Following her arraignment, the defendant's bond was set at $750,000, and she is currently held at the Macomb County Jail.
Events took a particularly harrowing turn when, according to authorities, Ricklefs had her young daughter in the vehicle during some of the alleged assaults. Her 12-year-old son managed to escape earlier during the Clawson encounter, as per FOX 2 Detroit. Along with the felony counts, Ricklefs is also charged with one misdemeanor count of fourth-degree child abuse.
