After nearly eight months of waiting, a Kenosha family says they finally got a measure of relief when 35-year-old Ashley Nolder was taken into custody following a court hearing. The crash that killed 49-year-old Angelina Principato happened on Sept. 22, 2025, in Salem Lakes when, according to investigators, a turning car struck Principato's motorcycle on County Highway C.
Arrest comes after court appearance
Nolder was taken into custody on Wednesday after an intake hearing in Kenosha and is now held on multiple felony counts. According to TMJ4, family members said watching deputies place Nolder in handcuffs brought a sense of relief after months of waiting and uncertainty.
Crash details and blood-alcohol level
According to the criminal complaint and reporting by CBS58, Nolder failed to yield while turning left into the path of Principato's Harley-Davidson on the 27400 block of County Highway C. Bystanders performed CPR at the scene, and Principato was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead that night. Authorities say Nolder initially denied drinking, then later admitted to consuming alcohol and registered a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.211, roughly three times the legal limit.
Family's courtroom statement
In court, Principato's eldest daughter, Ashley Richmond, delivered an emotional victim-impact statement and said she had to identify her mother's body by a tattoo, according to TMJ4. "I suddenly lost my mother and my best friend," Richmond said in the courtroom, the outlet reports. She told reporters she had been seven months pregnant the night her mother was killed and described Nolder's arrest as a step that brought some relief, even as her family continues to grieve.
Charges, bond and next hearing
Prosecutors have filed 11 counts against Nolder, including homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, two counts of neglecting a child and obstructing an officer, per CBS58. The court set cash bond at $250,000, and Nolder is due back in Kenosha County court next Wednesday for further proceedings. Court filings reviewed by reporters say Nolder had two nine-year-old children in the car at the time of the crash; they were not injured.
What the law allows prosecutors to pursue
Under Wisconsin law, homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle can be charged when a person causes another person's death while operating a vehicle with a prohibited alcohol concentration. That offense is codified in Wis. Stat. § 940.09. The statute does not require prosecutors to prove an intent to kill, and sentencing can include lengthy prison terms and substantial fines for OWI-related homicides, according to the state code and penalty guidance. For the statute and penalty details, see the Wisconsin Statutes and the Wisconsin DOT OWI Penalty Guide.
Investigation delays and what's next
Investigations into fatal crashes can stretch for months while evidence, medical reports and toxicology results are gathered, a delay that families often describe as painful and frustrating. Reporting on state crime-lab backlogs has shown that evidence-processing delays sometimes slow prosecutions, particularly when authorities are awaiting test results, according to Wisconsin Public Radio. The Principato family is expected to return to court next week as the legal process continues and they continue to mourn the loss of a mother and grandmother.
