The man accused of leading police on a high speed chase last month that ended with a crash and the death of a Brownville woman is now facing 72 counts in connection with the series of crimes, including allegations that he was under the influence of drugs at the time. The indictment against Francis Morgia was revealed Wednesday in Jefferson County Court. Morgia is alleged to have been fleeing police who were investigating a purse snatching October 3 outside of the Rt. 3 Kohl's when his vehicle hit a second, killing 75 year old Shirley Hammond of Brownville and injuring three others in the vehicle. That crash happened on Rt. 342 in the Town of Pamelia. The indictment includes charges of second degree murder, second degree manslaughter, and aggravated vehicular homicide. The new information to come from the indictment are allegations that Morgia was driving under the influence of drugs, although the specific drug he was allegedly on was not made public. Morgia remains jailed on $500,000.
