From Deseret News archives:
Charges filed against mother, son in 4-year-old's death
Regina Tausinga of Saraoga Springs was charged in 4th District Court with misdemeanors of negligent homicide, no proof of insurance and permitting an unlicensed driver to drive.
Tausinga's 15-year-old son, who police haven't named, allegedly was driving unlicensed on Aug. 21 when he hit Cooper Mardesich, who was riding his bike across Parkway Boulevard in Saratoga Springs.
The son was charged last week with three driving-related misdemeanors, though prosecutors declined to name him or his charges.
Defense attorneys Stephen Frazier and Nyal Bodily have been hired to represent the mother.
"It's a sad situation no matter how you look at it," Frazier said. "It's horrible for the poor family who lost a son, and for the family now going through all this."
He said while many of the neighbors are being supportive, the Tausinga family has been harassed by some people in the area as well as through e-mailed comments.
Police say Cooper and his mother were waving to an older sibling who had just boarded a bus.
Cooper was flown to Primary Children's Medical Center, where he died.
A memorial fund, called the "Fund for Cooper Mardesich," has been set up at the Bank of American Fork in Lehi.
Tausinga is scheduled to make her first appearance in court on Oct. 15 before Judge Lynn W. Davis.
E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com
Recent comments
We can post our comments has much as we can, but we all know if we...
dream | Oct. 2, 2008 at 1:21 p.m.
I live out in SS and and my In-laws live 3 houses down from them. The...
Anonymous | Sept. 30, 2008 at 4:01 p.m.
Plenty of blame to go around, more importantly, plenty of heartache...
Anonymous | Sept. 28, 2008 at 8:31 a.m.
- 'Cats get past pesky D-II foe 12:33 a.m.
- Third period pivotal for Jazz 12:32 a.m.
- Utah Jazz game at a glance 12:30 a.m.
- Nets lose 14th straight 12:26 a.m.
- Thunder are making noise 12:24 a.m.
- Submit your best Christmas memory 12:22 a.m.
- National news briefs 12:21 a.m.
- Philippines massacre a terrible test 12:20 a.m.
- Is Belgian man really communicating? 12:18 a.m.
- World datelines 12:16 a.m.
- Utah, BYU are top choices for bowls
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
- Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
- Best prep football games of 2009
- KSL: Prostitution in Utah County
- Man trapped in own body for 23 yrs
- Kirilenko climbing blocks list
- Woman describes stabbing, killing
- Boys basketball rankings
- 'Dancing' will fill out finale
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
229 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
224 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
202 - Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
189 - Bronco, Kyle rubber match
137 - BYU records with win
133 - Letters: Rushing to judge Palin
122 - Hall, Johnson matchup key
102 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
99 - 4A: Timpview wins 4th in 4 years
93
needs to get a dunk!
First of all, the Thunder aren't known for being a great outside shooting...
And if BYU didn't lose any games, they could have been in the BCS. And if...
OKC = 16 Jazz = 24. Boozer and Millsap had 10 and Okur had 2. That is...
to To KF 9:35 PM My 42% increase may seem insignificant, but I have a...
Nice........
This is so weird. You see how stacked it is to include Nebraska,simply...
Mike, don't take it so personal. We know you are a Utah homer, but let's get...
I am a Seneca Indian from Western NY and find the meso America theory hard to...
If the chances are slim to none, why is this even news?? Trust the D.N. to...


