Ashley Marie Darity, 34, faces two counts of involuntary manslaughter following the tragic deaths of Transylvania County teenagers, Layne Jones and Jayden Reynald. The fatal incident took place on August 25, when the two Rosman High School students and football players were involved in an ATV crash. Darity, a former substitute teacher in their school district, is accused of providing alcohol to the teens prior to the accident.
The crash occurred as the boys drove a 2015 Polaris Sportsman off the road, colliding with a tree while navigating a curve. In a show of solidarity and remembrance, the Rosman High School community organized an "orange out" during an August 30 home football game against North Henderson. This event was aimed at honoring the lives of Layne and Jayden, whose untimely deaths left the community grappling with an "unimaginable loss," as described by Superintendent Lisa Fletcher.
"held the juvenile up to assist (them) in doing a keg stand"
Originates from: An arrest warrant for Rathbone
In addition to Darity's arrest, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement officers have detained Balsam Grove residents Brandon Kaine Rathbone, 47, and Patricia Faye Whitehead, 33. Both face charges for aiding and abetting the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages by a person under 21. Their bail was set at $500 each. According to an arrest warrant, Rathbone and Whitehead allegedly hosted an underage house party where they provided a 15-year-old with a malt beverage. The dates of offense for Rathbone and Whitehead are listed as June 10, 2023, and February 14, 2023, respectively, more than a year before the tragic crash involving Layne and Jayden.
Darity's bail was set at $20,000 following her arrest on February 13. Her attorney, Sean Devereux, has declined to comment further on the case at this time. The community continues to mourn the loss of the two promising young athletes, as they seek answers and justice in the wake of what Superintendent Fletcher termed a "devastating accident."
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