In a north Minneapolis case that has rattled an entire neighborhood, 40-year-old Teniki Latrice Steward has pleaded guilty to four felony counts tied to a high-speed crash that killed two women in 2024. Steward admitted to two counts of third-degree murder and two counts of criminal vehicular operation. Her sentencing is scheduled for April 17, 2026. The victims, 53-year-old Esther Jean Fulks and 57-year-old Rose Elaine Reece, died after their SUV was hit at the intersection of Emerson Avenue North and 26th Avenue North on December 16, 2024.
Crash And Plea Details
According to KSTP, court records state that Steward was driving north on Emerson Avenue at a high rate of speed when she sped through a red light at 26th Avenue North and slammed into a Ford Explorer. The impact shoved the Explorer into a bus shelter and left both women inside the SUV dead, investigators reported. Prosecutors initially charged Steward with two counts of vehicular homicide, but say they upgraded those charges to third-degree murder because of what they described as her extremely dangerous speeds before the crash.
Injuries And Prosecutorial Response
As reported by CBS Minnesota, a 17-year-old waiting at the bus stop and a passenger riding with Steward were also injured and taken to hospitals after the collision. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in a statement that the plea both holds Steward accountable and helps protect the community, pointing to investigative findings that Steward had narrowly avoided several other crashes before the fatal impact.
Neighbors And Coworkers Mourn
In the days after the wreck, friends, relatives and colleagues gathered near the intersection for a balloon release and candlelight vigil. They remembered Fulks and Reece as deeply rooted community navigators who spent decades connecting neighbors with food, housing and other basic resources. The memorial and their life stories were detailed by the Star Tribune, which highlighted the women’s long history of helping residents find support.
Court Timeline And Possible Penalties
Steward entered her guilty plea on the day her trial was set to begin, according to court records, and is now awaiting sentencing on April 17, 2026. Each third-degree murder charge carries a statutory maximum sentence of up to 25 years. Local prosecutors have said the upgraded murder counts reflect the seriousness of the speeds investigators say Steward reached before the crash, according to KSTP.
With the plea now entered, Fulks’ and Reece’s loved ones, along with neighborhood leaders, are focusing on honoring the women’s legacy while they wait for the judge’s decision in April. Coverage will be updated after April 17 if sentencing details or additional court filings are released.
