A Wisconsin woman who struck her husband with her truck while driving drunk and dragged his body across the road pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
Mary Jane Terry, 50, was initially charged with first-degree intentional homicide after police accused her of killing her husband, Donald Britten Jr., by hitting him with her truck on October 19, 2023.
According to the criminal complaint, a neighbor heard a “prolonged thud” outside his window that night as brake lights glared into his home.
After the thud, he told police that he heard a “doo, doo, doo, doo” sound, which turned out to be Britten’s body being dragged by Terry’s truck. He was discovered lying dead in the street.
When police arrived at the scene, Forest County Sheriff’s Deputy William Stanley recognized Britten because he had known both Britten and Terry for over 20 years.
Terry was standing by her late husband’s body when Stanley arrived. She reportedly repeatedly asked the officer, “Billy, is he dead?”
Stanley attempted CPR on Britten but found no signs that he was still alive. When Stanley asked Terry if Britten had been hit by a truck, she responded, “Yes.” But when asked who was driving the truck, she replied, “I don’t know, he had my truck.”
Terry eventually admitted that she had driven the truck at one point to retrieve her phone from her home, but she denied that she was the one who hit her husband.
According to the report, another deputy noticed Terry’s alcoholic odor.
Terry underwent a field sobriety test, which included a breath test. Terry blew 0.298, nearly four times the legal limit of 0.08. Terry was arrested after visiting the hospital for a blood draw.
Terry’s account of the incident changed over time, raising suspicions about her involvement in the fatal collision.
Terry’s case grew stronger, and the bar owner was charged with first-degree intentional homicide and homicide by intoxicated driving.
On January 6, Terry pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of homicide by intoxicated driving.
As part of the plea agreement, the charge of first-degree intentional homicide was dropped. She is scheduled to be sentenced on May 16.