Victim reacts to Bisard news: 'What else can go wrong?'

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Three lives were directly affected that Friday morning in 2010 when IMPD Officer David Bisard crashed into a group of motorcyclists, killing one and seriously injuring two others. Tuesday’s surprising developments are bringing back the pain of that day.

In an exclusive interview Tuesday night with 24-Hour News 8, Mary Mills – one of those hurt in the crash - reacted about the moment that changed her life and said she wants something from Bisard.

Demanding answers

Mary Mills nearly died. She and Kurt Weekly, now her husband, spent months in the hospital and had to learn how to walk again.

When she heard the news Tuesday that blood evidence in the case had been mishandled by IMPD, she thought: "What else can go wrong? Truthfully what else can go wrong?"

The news shocked her, but didn’t surprise her she said.

"Here we go again,” she said. “It's a ‘What's next? What is going to happen next?’"

Mills spoke exclusively to 24-Hour News 8 Tuesday, saying she wants more accountability.

"One of the things I want to know is, who is being held responsible for anything?” she said, noting Luisa Wells, the wife of the motorcyclist killed, Eric Wells, had a similar reaction.

Eric Wells’ father, Aaron, said news that the IMPD police chief had stepped down was a start.

"The chief stepping down is good,” he said. “More of the rank and file should step down. It devastates you when you think their investigation and the way they handle things can’t get much worse, and then it does. You think wow, this is just incredible."

Mills agreed, lamenting the time wasted on the blood evidence that is now called into question due to it being moved out of cold storage.

"We spent so much time getting that second vial of blood, convincing the judge it needed to be tested. We did all that for what? What will the defense do? will that hold things up again?"

Apology wanted

Mills and Weekly owe thousands of dollars for medical bills and lawyer fees, and are both still in rehab. She said wants one more thing from Bisard.

"I have not heard the first ‘I am sorry. I apologize.’ Nothing. … Just because you apologize is not an admission of guilt. It's human common courtesy," she said.

IMPD accountability

Mills doesn't believe the incident with the second blood vial is an accident.

"I would love for somebody to prove to me it was just an error,” she said. “It's hard to say, ‘Oh just another mistake on this case,’ and press on. It's not that easy."
Public Safety Director Frank Straub admitted there were indicators. Weekly's attorney Bruce Kehoe said of Straub's statement: "We knew we had officers drinking on duty, and we didn't hold them accountable. And you have Kurt and Mary in the crosshairs of that neglect. I don't know how accountability doesn’t go to the top."

He points directly to Straub and Mayor Greg Ballard.

"The mayor says he is sorry,” Kehoe said. “That really is pretty hollow."

Requests for settlement go unanswered

Wednesday, Mills’ attorneys revealed new information. I-Team 8 is learning just how many times the attorneys have reached out to city lawyers to try to resolve the civil case, and we now know the response.

Kehoe and Mark Ladendorf have requested nine times in the last one and half years to meet with city attorneys to work out a settlement in the civil case. The last request was in December.

"The only answer we have received at this point,” Kehoe said, “is, ‘This is not the right time to sit down.’"

Other times, they have received no response at all.

I-Team 8 put in repeated calls to find out why the city refuses. The attorney hired by the city, Larry Mackey of Barnes and Thornburg, did not return our calls.

Healing and giving back

"Bones have healed, except for Kurt. We're getting a little bit of memory back. But we are still in the same situation as the day of the crash, as far as any justice being done," Mills said.

Although she said riding even in a car can be tough, especially when they hear police sirens, the couple is slowly getting back on motorcycles.

Medical bills are mounting into the tens of thousands of dollars. But they plan to give all money raised in memorial rides to other local charities instead of putting it toward their own bills.

When asked why, Mills said: "We'll be OK. I've come to learn some things about Indianapolis I didn’t know before. This is becoming home. Kurt and I will be fine. We have medical bills, but we will work it out. We're back to work now."

There are two benefit rides set this summer. One, beginning at 8 a.m. May 19 in Whiteland, will stop at the crash site and the City County Building. The other, in memory of Eric Wells, is set for Aug. 11 and will benefit the Dayspring Homeless Shelter.