Cadence Orcutt was killed in a crash November 22, 2015 on 175th Road west of Wathena. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, 57-year-old Dennis Meers allowed the eight-year-old girl to drive.
The Patrol says the child lost control of the vehicle, which left the roadway, went down an embankment and overturned. Cadence was killed when she was ejected and the vehicle landed on top of her.
The court record in this case was initially sealed, which is standard practice until they receive a return on a served warrant or the suspect appears before a Kansas judge. The District Court Clerk’s office in Doniphan County now says the case is open.
Meers was arrested in June in Buchanan County on an unrelated charge of driving with a revoked license. After his extradition to Doniphan County last month, Meers waived his preliminary hearing. He was bound over for trial on a charge of aggravated endangerment of a child October 25.
But his district court arraignment was delayed and now may be delayed again. The prosecutor was granted a continuance for the arraignment, which was rescheduled for December 21. Court records show the defense lawyer in the case has now requested another continuance.
Meers is in custody in the Doniphan County Jail, unable to post $25,000 bail.