A jury on Friday convicted a woman of murder and other charges after she drove drunk and killed a teen and her mother’s boyfriend.
Tayishe Baltys, 46, was found to be responsible for the June 22, 2022, deaths of Jessica Talamante, 15, and Brian McKee, who were struck at around 10 p.m. on East Plaza Boulevard in National City while walking home after stopping at a 7-Eleven.
Talamante died at the scene, while McKee was taken to a hospital, where he later died. Talamante’s sister was also walking home with the victims and narrowly avoided being struck by Baltys, according to prosecutors.
She was charged with murder due to having a prior DUI conviction. She pleaded guilty in that case and was sentenced to probation in 2020.
She faces 30 years to life in state prison in the South Bay case. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 22.
Deputy District Attorney Mary Loeb told jurors that prior to the crash, Baltys spent around three hours drinking with co-workers at a Dave & Buster’s restaurant in Mission Valley.