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Manchester resident Julianna Leasure is facing charges after she allegedly led officers on a high-speed chase March 11 when they attempted to serve her an indictment related to the fentanyl death of her 3-month-old infant.

According to the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department (CCSD), officers were attempting to serve the indictment that stemmed from an investigation conducted by the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney General’s Office involving the death of a 3-month-old infant that occurred on Sept. 22, 2023.

In a statement from police, the infant was found to have died from acute fentanyl toxicity.

According to the warrant against Leasure, investigators were surveilling the residence of Leasure, the mother, when they made contact with her when she exited home. 

“CCSD made contact with Leasure when she exited her home, but she immediately locked herself in her vehicle,” the warrant read. “CCSD advised her she was under arrest, but Leasure started her vehicle, drove through her yard and failed to stop when emergency equipment was activated.”

Leasure gave chase as she passed multiple vehicles on the should of Highway 41A and Interstate 24, exceeding speeds of 80-100 mph, as well as crossing the median three separate times.

On her fourth attempt to cross the media, deputies forced her to a stop; however, in the process, she struck a deputy’s vehicle head-on around mile marker 109. The warrant was also noted during the pursuit Leasure was observed holding her cell phone and speaking. 

Leasure was taken into custody and charged with murder, reckless homicide, child abuse and child neglect or endangerment, evading arrest, assault against first responder or nurse, reckless endangerment, resisting stop, frisk, halt, or stop, unlawful use of telecommunications device and reckless driving.

Leasure’s bond is set at $74,000 with a court date set for March 31.