Summary (tl;dr)

Nicole Linton, a former traveling nurse, was convicted on October 2, 2026, of six counts of second-degree murder for a catastrophic 2022 car crash in Windsor Hills, Los Angeles, that killed six people, including a pregnant woman and her infant son.

Essential Background

On August 4, 2022, Nicole Linton drove her Mercedes-Benz at approximately 130 mph through a red light at the intersection of La Brea and Slauson avenues in Windsor Hills, causing a fiery multi-vehicle collision. The crash resulted in the deaths of six individuals: Asherey Ryan, who was 8 ½ months pregnant; her 11-month-old son, Alonzo Quintero; her boyfriend, Reynold Lester; her unborn child, Armani Lester; and two other women, Nathesia Lewis and Lynette Noble. Linton was subsequently charged with six counts of murder and five counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, though the latter charges were later dismissed. Her defense argued she suffered an incapacitating seizure, while prosecutors contended she deliberately accelerated, fueled by mental health issues and anger towards her job.

The Full Story

On October 2, 2026, a Los Angeles jury found Nicole Linton guilty on all six counts of second-degree murder after deliberating for approximately three hours. Prosecutors successfully argued that Linton intentionally used her vehicle as a "high-speed missile," demonstrating a complete disregard for human life. The conviction comes over four years after the tragic incident and follows weeks of emotional testimony. Linton, 41, now faces a statutory prison sentence of 90 years to life in California state prison. Her formal sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 1, 2026, at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center in downtown Los Angeles.

Why It Matters

This conviction marks a significant legal milestone for traffic fatality prosecutions, particularly in California, underscoring that extreme speed and reckless disregard in dense traffic can legally be deemed second-degree murder. The verdict delivers a measure of accountability for the tragedy that devastated multiple families and has prompted discussions about mental health's role in vehicular crimes. For the victims' families, while the legal battle concludes, the profound impact and lifelong grief remain.

Geographic Location

• Intersection of La Brea and Slauson avenues, Windsor Hills, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States (site of the fatal 2022 car crash)
• Downtown Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States (location of the jury trial and conviction)
• Foltz Criminal Justice Center, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States (location of the upcoming sentencing)