Columbia man indicted on murder charge for deadly Highway 54 crash

A Columbia man has been indicted on murder and assault charges for a deadly March accident on Highway 54.

28-year-old Dennis Leporin was indicted Wednesday for second-degree murder, second-degree assault, driving while intoxicated and two misdemeanors.

The indictment replaced earlier charges filed against Leporin.

Court documents state on Wednesday, March 6, Leporin was driving the wrong way on Highway 54 and crashed head-on into another car, killing Chelsea Fredrickson, 19, of Camdenton.

The probable cause statement quotes Leporin as telling law enforcement, “I was in a horrible wreck that I caused.” The statement also quotes Leporin as saying on the night of the crash, he was in Arkansas and that the year was 2012.

Officials say Leporin had a revoked driver’s license at the time of the accident, and that he has at least two prior DWI convictions.

Cole County Sheriff Greg White says Leporin remains jailed on a $250,000 bond.

Leporin is scheduled to be arraigned on May 29.