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'Major stroke' delays reckless homicide trial

By Becky Malkovich, The Southern

Tuesday, September 30, 2008 11:35 PM CDT

BENTON - A Franklin County man's reckless homicide trial is on hold.

William D. Sprind's jury trial was scheduled to start Tuesday in Franklin County Court, but was delayed after an emergency order to continue was filed on his behalf.

According to a motion filed by his defense attorney, Sprind suffered a "major stroke" on Sept. 22 and was hospitalized in an Evansville, Ind. hospital at the time of filing Friday.

Sprind of West Frankfort is accused of reckless homicide in the January 2007 death of Marilyn "PI" Holt of Johnston City.

Holt was a passenger in a vehicle driven by her husband Troy Holt and suffered fatal injuries in a crash on Illinois 37 in Franklin County.

Police reports indicate Sprind was northbound on Illinois 37 north of West Frankfort when his truck crossed the center line and into the path of the Holt vehicle. Holt reportedly drove off the shoulder in an attempt to avoid Sprind's oncoming truck, but the two vehicles collided.

Sprind, 35, was charged with reckless homicide and four counts of aggravated DUI.

Sprind has a previous reckless homicide conviction stemming from the 1989 death of Joyce Bullock of Mulkeytown. Sprind, then 16, was also cited for DUI in that crash, which occurred after Sprind's vehicle struck Bullock's car as she traveled Illinois 14 in West City.

Sprind also received major injuries in the 2007 crash. Those injuries have caused several delays in the court proceedings.

A status hearing on the case was set for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.