An Alabama woman has been charged with murder after allegedly killing Ms. Alabama Tourism 2021 – a pregnant mom-of-four – in a head-on crash over the summer while under the influence of a ‘cocktail of drugs,’ with her own infant in the backseat of the car, according to authorities.
Anna Lea Dalrymple, 36, was driving northbound with her young daughter when her 2007 Volvo crossed the center line, causing a deadly collision with Audra Mary Rogers, who was driving her four young sons as they sat in the back on July 5, 2021.
Rogers, 36, who was pregnant at the time with her fifth son, attempted to avoid the crash in her Honda Pilot, but the two cars ultimately collided head-on. Rogers was pronounced dead at the scene.
Dalrymple and her infant daughter, who was unrestrained at the time of the crash, were both seriously injured, while Rogers’ four sons, ages unknown, were wearing seatbelts and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
A blood test revealed that Dalrymple was under the influence of ‘a cocktail of drugs,’ according to police, including methadone, Xanax, Klonopin and Gabapentin, AL.com reported.
Dalrymple has since been charged with reckless murder in Rogers’ death, as well as four counts of first-degree assault for injuries to each of Rogers’ sons, and domestic violence and reckless endangerment for injuring her own infant daughter in the wreck, according to reports.
Pictured: Audra Mary Rogers, who was killed during a head-on crash while driving her four young sons as they sat in the back in July 2021
Rogers and her four sons, all of whom were in the car with her at the time of the deadly collision in July
Rogers’ four young sons, pictured, were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash and received non-life threatening injuries
Pictured: Anna Lea Dalrymple, 36, who has been charged with reckless murder, four counts of first-degree assault for injuries to each of Rogers’ sons and several more charges
On February 24, Dalrymple was booked into the Tuscaloosa County Jail and released the same day after posting $137,500 bond.
Dalrymple has yet to enter a plea, while an attorney for her was not immediately listed on online records.
The Rogers’ attorney, Paul Patterson, submitted the following statement to PEOPLE: ‘Audra’s four young sons lost their mother because of the intentional and reckless behavior of Anna Dalrymple. We trust a Tuscaloosa County jury will hold her accountable and render the maximum sentence for this reprehensible act.’
Rogers was a professional bodybuilder and beauty queen who held the title of 2021 World’s Ms. Alabama Tourism.
The Miss Tourism pageant was established in 1998, according to its website, and has a mission to ‘serve communities all over the world.’
She was also a three-time powerlifting state record holder, according to online records.
Rogers pictured with her four sons, all of whom were in Rogers’ vehicle during the deadly July crash
Rogers was a three-time power-lifting state record holder, according to online records
Rogers, who was pregnant at the time, attempted to avoid the crash, but the two cars ultimately collided head-on
‘All of us here at Crunch Tuscaloosa are just devastated by the loss of Crunch Tuscaloosa member and friend Audra Rogers,’ the gym wrote had posted. ‘She inspired and motivated and her smile would light up a room.’
A GoFundMe for Rogers’ family had raised $38,930 out of $33,000 goal after being created shortly after the fatal crash back in July.
In an update to the fundraising page on Thursday, Gabriel Rogers, listed as beneficiary, wrote: ‘Our family continues to heal from our devastating loss. While 8 months has passed, we are still reeling as if it just happened. We know so many of you are looking for updates on the boys, but due to an ongoing court case and open murder investigation, we are unable to share specifics.
‘We can say they miss their mom. Deeply. And they are healing both physically and emotionally still.
‘With the recent charges brought forward against the woman who murdered Audra, we know there is a lot more traffic to this Go Fund Me and we want to say thank you. We truly, truly appreciate each person who has helped us with prayers and donations. Knowing the woman who murdered Audra had no insurance, every single penny donated is a huge blessing to us.’
Rogers was a professional bodybuilder and beauty queen, who held the title of 2021 World’s Ms. Alabama Tourism
Rogers, pictured above in an undated photo with a horse
The post continued: ‘The financial burden that has been laid upon our family in addition to coping with a gruesome murder of our beloved Audra is at times too much to handle, but we know God is bigger than all of this and He is working to make sure Audra didn’t die in vain.
‘There are no words to describe our gratefulness to every single one of you. Please continue to pray for healing physically, emotionally, and justice for our Audra and these boys.’
