26-03-2025
Milwaukee man faces trial in north side crash that killed 69-year-old woman
A Milwaukee man who allegedly drove with a suspended license told a court he is prepared to go to trial for killing another motorist in a crash last month.
At a hearing Tuesday, Milwaukee County Court Commissioner Barry Phillips found enough probable cause existed in the case against Montavious Henderson to move forward.
Henderson, 23, is charged with second-degree reckless homicide as a habitual criminality repeater, in addition to other offenses stemming from the Feb. 18 crash on Milwaukee's north side that killed Kay Farberg, 69.
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Henderson appeared in court wearing an orange jumpsuit, while handcuffed to a set of crutches. He waived his preliminary hearing, and pleaded not guilty to the charge through his attorney, Wendy A. Patrickus.
Henderson is expected to be back in court on April 17 for a scheduling conference before Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Wagner.
More: Her daughter was 'fighter' since birth. Years later, Milwaukee man convicted in crash that killed her.
Dispatchers received several 911 calls reporting a two-vehicle crash near Teutonia Avenue and Mill Road just before midnight Feb. 18.
The collision involved a 2024 Hyundai Sonata and a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. Occupants of each vehicle were alone.
Farberg, the driver of the Malibu, was in critical condition and was taken to Froedtert Hospital, but later died from her injuries.
The motorist in the Sonata, later identified as Henderson, suffered a serious leg injury and also was taken to Froedtert, according to a criminal complaint.
Authorities noted that damage to the vehicles suggests the Hyundai was traveling at a high speed when it hit Farberg's vehicle, the complaint says.
Surveillance cameras captured footage of the crash. It shows the Malibu traveling east on Mill through the intersection. The Malibu had the green light.
The video also shows the Hyundai, headed north on Teutonia, blow through a red light "at a high speed."
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Henderson's driver's license was suspended at the time of the crash, Wisconsin Department of Transportation records show. He also told investigators during an interview he was aware it, the complaint states.
Henderson was convicted in Glendale Municipal Court on Sept. 19 for operating while suspended. That stemmed from an incident that occurred in that city on July 15.
He also was convicted June 20 for operating while suspended in Milwaukee for a May 7 incident.
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In addition to the reckless homicide count, Henderson also is charged with knowingly operating a motor vehicle while suspended (causing death) as a habitual criminality repeater.
He remained in custody at the Milwaukee County Jail on Tuesday after he was unable to post an $18,000 cash bond for his release.
Fifteen people have died in Milwaukee County in motor vehicle crashes in 2025 as of March 23, the most updated data provided Tuesday by the Wisconsin Transportation Department.
The figures include the fatal crash on March 17 at 37th and Brown streets that killed a 19-year-old Milwaukee woman and injured five others. It also includes the March 22 crash in West Allis that left one teen dead and two others hospitalized.
Ninety-four traffic deaths occurred on Wisconsin roads and highways in all of 2024.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee man faces trial in Feb. 18 crash that killed 69-year-old woman
