The driver of the Porsche that went over the side of Highway 74 Sunday morning and resulted in the death of a 5-month-old child was arrested and booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center, Thursday, May 5.
Marcus Novell Green, 51, of Thermal, was charged by the district attorney with murder with malice aforthought and willful child cruelty. The California Highway Patrol arrested him on Wednesday and booked him Thursday. Green’s bail was set at more than $1.8 million. His initial hearing was Friday, May 6, and there is one scheduled for May 17.
With him in the car was Kristen Lauer, 22, of Rancho Mirage and a 5-month-old girl, identified by the Riverside County coroner as Armani Green, who died at the scene. His 2015 Porsche 911 coupe went over the side of Highway 74 near Vista Point above Palm Desert.
He and Lauer suffered injuries and were transported to a local hospital. The Porsche was two-seater, and it is not clear where the child was located before the car went off the road and down 200 feet.