Authorities detained a West Palm Beach bridge tender on Friday in connection with the murder of Carol Wright, a 79-year-old West Palm Beach woman who fell from a drawbridge in February.
Wright died after falling from the Royal Park Bridge, and Artissua Lafay Paulk, 43, is charged with one count of manslaughter by culpable negligence.
A court placed her bail at $20,000 and ordered Wright’s relatives and witnesses to stay away from her.
Florida Bridge: Carol Wright Murder Update
For the murder of Carol Wright on the Florida bridge, Artissua Paulk was detained on Thursday, according to police, when video footage contradicted a statement Paulk provided in which she said she stepped outside to inspect the bridge for vehicles and people before opening it.
According to attorney Lance Ivey, who represents Wright’s family, Wright had ridden her bike to a book store in Palm Beach on Feb. 6 and was returning home.
Wright was riding her bike along a pedestrian walkway on the bridge when the deck began to rise, according to attorneys and family members.
According to the family, the bridge tender was negligent.
Also, a skateboarder near the bridge attempted to assist Wright but was unable to grip her hand.
Paulk had been assigned to the Royal Park Bridge for two months after working for Florida Drawbridges Inc., which manages the bridge.
Manslaughter through culpable negligence is punishable by up to 15 years in jail. It’s unclear if Paulk’s boss will be charged in the case.
Where Is Artissua Lafay Paulk Now?
Talking about where Artissua Lafay Paulk is now, according to court filings, when a boat asked the bridge be lifted at 1 p.m., Paulk switched the traffic signals red and walked to the balcony to ensure traffic had stopped and no people were on the bridge.
Surveillance video revealed that someone walked out on the balcony just three times during Paulk’s shift: at 8:08 a.m., 8:59 a.m., and 9:03 a.m. The entrance to the balcony does not open at any other time during the shift, according to officials.
During the 1 p.m. opening, Wight was killed.
Officials said Paulk only reported four of the six bridge openings for the day, in addition to the differences in how often she was on the balcony.
Carol Wright Charges And Background
Talking about Carol Wright’s charges and background, she was arrested and put into the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Main Detention Center, according to police, but she was subsequently released after posting her $20,000 (£15,000) bond, according to WPBF.
It was unclear whether Ms Paulk had retained legal counsel.
Paulk, 43, is charged with manslaughter by culpable negligence. On the day of the fall, Paulk was characterized as “distraught” by police, who added that she cooperated with their investigation.