A woman who drunkenly plowed into and killed a 15-year-old girl and her mother’s boyfriend in National City was sentenced Thursday to 30 years to life in state prison. Tayishe Baltys, 46, was convicted of two counts of murder for the 2022 deaths of Jessica Talamante and Brian McKee.
The tragic incident occurred on June 22, 2022, when Baltys, heavily intoxicated after hours of drinking at a Dave & Buster’s, struck Talamante and McKee as they walked home from a 7-Eleven. Talamante died at the scene, while McKee succumbed to his injuries at a hospital. Talamante’s sister narrowly escaped the deadly collision.
Baltys faced murder charges due to a prior DUI conviction in 2020. Prosecutors revealed her blood-alcohol content was twice the legal limit at the time of the fatal crash, despite her initial denials to police.
During the trial, Baltys admitted to drinking and lying to officers but denied feeling too intoxicated to drive. Her defense argued that poor lighting and the victims crossing outside a crosswalk contributed to the accident, attempting to downplay the role of her intoxication.
In a tearful address to the victims’ families, Baltys expressed “sincere, utter” remorse. Judge Carlos Varela delivered consecutive 15-years-to-life sentences for each murder, rejecting the defense’s plea for concurrent terms and rehabilitation considerations. The judge noted the “eerily similar” circumstances to Baltys’ prior DUI, where she also drove to the wrong city.
“You made a series of disastrous mistakes,” Judge Varela told Baltys, emphasizing the “extremely tragic case with two innocent lives taken.”
Kristen White, Talamante’s mother and McKee’s girlfriend, expressed the devastating impact of their loss, stating, “Their lives were taken in an instant because of a reckless and selfish decision.”
