A Twentynine Palms woman who lost control of her car while drunk resulting in a crash that killed two passengers, will be retried on second-degree murder charges. Angela Nicole Patterson, 25, faces 30 years to life in prison if convicted in the June 2009 deaths of Jason Stevens and Jeffery Husted, both 26. The victims were riding with Patterson when she drove off the road, overturning and crashing into a tree in Joshua Tree National Park. A front-seat passenger was seriously injured in the wreck, and Patterson suffered moderate injuries after being ejected. Patterson was charged with two counts each of second-degree murder and gross vehicular manslaughter, as well as DUI resulting in injuries. In May, a jury convicted her of the felony DUI and manslaughter charges but deadlocked 7-5 in favor of acquitting her on the murder charges, resulting in a mistrial on those counts. During a status hearing Tuesday, prosecutors told the court the District Attorney will retry Patterson on the unresolved charges. The judge scheduled a trial-setting conference in the case for Aug. 17. Angela Patterson remains in custody in lieu of $1 million bail in Riverside.
