Bars from a prison jail cast a shadow on the floro.
Bars from a prison jail cast a shadow on the floro.

St. Louis driver gets 21 years for deadly Valentine’s Day crash that killed mother and daughter

Posted by
1 min read
October 13, 2025

ST. LOUIS, MO – A Kirkwood man has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for a high-speed crash that killed a mother and daughter crossing a downtown street after a concert.

Monte Henderson, 23, drove a Jeep Grand Cherokee through multiple red lights before slamming into the pair at Olive and North 18th Streets.

The Valentine’s Day 2024 crash killed 42-year-old Laticha Liz Bracero and her 21-year-old daughter, Alyssa Angel Cordova, who were visiting St. Louis for a concert.

Investigators said Henderson was traveling eastbound on Olive Street at more than 70 miles per hour when he struck the two women in a crosswalk.

Surveillance footage from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center captured Henderson weaving through traffic and ignoring traffic signals just moments before the collision.

Speed data confirms deadly recklessness

Police data from the Jeep’s airbag control module showed Henderson’s vehicle was traveling 74 miles per hour when it entered the intersection.

Henderson pled guilty in July to two counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter and two counts of armed criminal action, leaving his punishment to be decided by the court.

At sentencing, prosecutors detailed the devastating impact of the crash on both families and described Henderson’s decision to drive at such high speeds as “utterly reckless.”

Prosecutors emphasize accountability

“This case makes clear that we will aggressively prosecute those who choose to drive recklessly and imperil members of our community,” said St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore.

He added that the 21-year sentence reflects both the gravity of Henderson’s actions and the permanent loss suffered by the victims’ loved ones.

The case was prosecuted by Homicide Unit Chief Tanja Engelhardt, Violent Crime Unit Supervisor Adam Field, and Homicide Unit Deputy Chief Carolyn Chkautovich.

Henderson will serve his sentence in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Facebook

Breaking News

Don't Miss