Woman Charged With Manslaughter After Giving Drunk Sister Keys Before Crash That Killed 3-Year-Old

Ren-Tasia Broome, 20, from New York, has been charged with second-degree manslaughter after prosecutors alleged she returned her sister's car keys, allowing her intoxicated sister to drive before a crash that killed a three-year-old girl.

Prosecutors allege Broome returned the keys to Jazmine Vann after police had taken them because officers believed Vann was too intoxicated to drive.

According to prosecutors, Vann eventually drove at more than 70mph in a 30mph zone and crashed into a tree in Syracuse on 31 July. Aboard the car were Vann's girlfriend, Nathalie Alejandro, and her children: seven-year-old Mark Shaaf III and three-year-old Yasmeen Shaaf.

Broome appeared in Onondaga County Court on Monday, 14 September. Prosecutor Frank Pelosi described her as 'absolutely unremorseful' over what prosecutors allege was her role in returning the keys to her intoxicated sister.

Police Initially Seized the Car Keys

Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick stated that the incident began the previous night. He said Syracuse police responded to a party where an argument had ensued between Vann and her mother after she suspected that her daughter was not in the right condition to drive.

Officers determined that Vann was intoxicated and allegedly warned her not to drive, telling her about the serious consequences of getting behind the wheel while impaired. Police then seized Vann's car keys after Broome allegedly assured officers that she would be the one driving instead.

According to the prosecution, however, Vann retrieved the keys from Broome shortly after the authorities left, took the driver's seat of the 2022 Kia Sorento and drove away. Vann was accompanied by Alejandro and Alejandro's children.

Three Women Charged After the Fatal Crash

Prosecutors allege Vann drove at more than 70mph in a 30mph zone and went through a stop sign before crashing into a tree. Authorities allege the children were not secured in car seats or wearing seatbelts during the collision.

Yasmeen died after suffering severe injuries to her head and body, while Mark was also seriously injured.

Vann initially faced charges including aggravated vehicular homicide. An Onondaga County grand jury later indicted her on a second-degree murder charge alleging depraved indifference to human life. She remains in custody on $500,000 (£370,000) bail.

Meanwhile, Broome faces second-degree manslaughter over Yasmeen's death and remains held on $100,000 (£74,000) cash bail, a $200,000 (£148,000) bond or a $300,000 (£222,000) partially secured bond. A judge declined to lower her bail during Monday's hearing.

Prosecutors have said they reviewed hundreds of Broome's jail calls and allege she has not accepted responsibility for returning the keys.

Alejandro pleaded guilty on 4 September to criminally negligent homicide after admitting she placed her children in the vehicle knowing that Vann was highly intoxicated. She is due to be sentenced on 7 December and is expected to cooperate with prosecutors and testify against Vann if her case goes to trial.

In Memory of Yasmeen Shaaf

A GoFundMe page has since been set up by Yasmeen's father, Mark Shaaf, and his fiancée, Ladashia Adams, entitled 'In Memory of Yasmeen Shaaf' to help with the financial burden. The campaign has raised more than $10,000 (£7,400).

'On Thursday, 30 July, our beautiful 3-year-old daughter, Yasmeen Shaaf, was tragically taken from us in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. No parent should ever have to experience the unimaginable pain of losing a child because of someone else's reckless decision,' the page stated.