Bodycam video recorded in the aftermath of a car crash in Pike County, Ohio, that killed a 7-year-old girl on Oct. 16 showed the driver telling an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper that, while on her way to the store, she turned her head to “look at the girls, to talk to them because they were fighting” in the back seat of the vehicle.
Chasity Bliss, a 43-year-old from Piketon, not only had 7-year-old Raegan Arianna Lansing in the car “unrestrained” by a seatbelt, but was also had her 5-year-old daughter in the vehicle as a passenger, troopers said.
“On October 16th, 2023, at approximately 3:43 P.M., the Portsmouth Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to a one-vehicle, single fatality crash near the 3000 block of Jasper Road, in Newton Township, Pike County, Ohio. Chasity D. Bliss, age 43, of Piketon, Ohio, was operating a 2005 Ford Focus that was traveling eastbound on Jasper Road with her two daughters in the back seat,” a press release on the incident detailed. “Mrs. Bliss drove off the left side of the roadway ramping over a driveway, striking a utility pole, and a tree before coming to final rest in a field.”
“As a result of the crash her seven-year-old daughter received fatal injuries and her five-year-old daughter was uninjured,” officials added. “The seven-year-old daughter was believed to be unrestrained at the time of the crash.”
The initial portion of the bodycam footage showed Bliss screaming, crying, and begging to see her “baby.” Approximately 50 minutes later, according to time stamps on the video footage, the trooper on scene began to question the woman about what led her to go off of the road and crash into a pole and tree, ultimately killing her own daughter who allegedly did not have her seatbelt fastened.
During the interview, Bliss appeared jumpy and was fidgeting with her nose.
“So you haven’t taken meth since yesterday then?” the trooper asked.
“Right, right. I took my sleeping pill last night,” Bliss responded. “I take it every night.”
A field sobriety test followed. The trooper asked Bliss to track the pen he was holding from left to right.
Chasity Bliss (left) as seen on Ohio State Highway Patrol bodycam footage and (right) in a Fayette County Jail mug shot.
During the test, Bliss asked about her older daughter. The audio briefly cut out and then the sobriety test resumed in a different format, with the suspect’s hands at her sides, and with her head up and eyes closed as she counted to 30. During the test, Bliss’ right elbow could be seen twitching. A short time later, the trooper began asking more questions about Bliss’ drug use.
“How do ingest your pills and your meth when you take them?” the investigator asked. Bliss appeared to answer “smoke.”
“How do you explain having zero nasal hair in your nose there?” the trooper followed up.
More Law&Crime coverage: Bodycam footage shows teacher attempting to explain heavy drinking on first day of school
“I have no idea. Xan, that was from a lot of years ago, probably,” the suspect responded, at first acknowledging that she used to snort Xanax.
“When’s the last time you did that?” the trooper asked.
Read Related Also: Gavin 'Capable' Preston: Humble wooden plaque at grave of notorious underworld figure carries a telling message
Bliss said four or five days ago, adding, “Because, because I smoked after he passed away.” The suspect appeared to be referring to Raegan’s father.
At this point, Bliss appeared disheartened that there was yet another component to the field sobriety test, a heel-to-toe test.
“I can’t even do that,” she said.
While that test was ongoing, Bliss asked for a sweatshirt to stop from shaking.
As she put on the sweatshirt, she appeared to say, “This is my bad, my life right now.”
Moments later, Bliss was placed into handcuffs.
“Damn, it’s cold,” she said, before sobbing.
Shortly thereafter, authorities arrested Bliss for allegedly operating a vehicle impaired (OVI). Bliss was read her Miranda rights and she affirmed that she understood those rights. Then the video ended.
Fayette County Jail records reviewed by Law&Crime showed that Bliss was booked at 9:32 p.m. on Oct. 16, hours after the deadly crash. Those records indicated that Bliss remained behind bars in Fayette County as of Tuesday on a hold for Pike County.
Bliss faces multiple felony charges and a no bond hold, according to “currently housed inmates” records on the Pike County Sheriff’s Office website. The listed felony charges are first-degree aggravated vehicular homicide, third-degree endangering children, first-degree involuntary manslaughter, and reckless homicide.
Chasity Bliss charges
The suspect also faces misdemeanor charges of endangering children and driving under the influence.
An obituary for Raegan Lansing said that the Jasper Elementary School first-grader was survived by six siblings.
“She loved fishing with her daddy and everyday was ‘The Best Day Ever,”” the obit said.
Raegan’s father Jason Lansing died of cancer in May, his obituary said, identifying Chasity Bliss as his fiancée.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
