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A BMW-driving teenager allegedly recorded himself speeding at over 100mph and spinning donuts in his car days after being involved in a fatal crash that killed an elderly couple.
Francesco Rendina, 18, was arrested May 10 and charged with reckless homicide over a horror crash on March 27 in Oak Brook, Illinois, which killed Reid Jacobsen, 72, and his wife Katherine, 67.
The teen driver allegedly accelerated to 104mph in a 45mph zone while weaving between lanes in the moments before the crash, before his 2022 BMW slammed into the couple's car at an intersection.
Reid died at the scene while Katherine was rushed to hospital, where she later died.
Rendina was initially granted pre-trial release at his first arraignment, but DuPage County Judge Celine O'Hallaren Walsh reversed that decision on June 10 and ordered he be detained ahead of trial.
O'Hallaren Walsh said she made the decision after prosecutors presented new evidence of Rendina's alleged actions before and after the crash, including accusing him of continuing to drive recklessly after the tragedy.
Prosecutors said that a review of Rendina's Snapchat account was filled with numerous videos taken from the driver's seat of his BMW showing him speeding and spinning donuts in a parking lot.
The videos were allegedly taken both before and after the fatal crash.
Francesco Rendina, 18, was arrested May 10 and charged with reckless homicide over a horror crash on March 27 in Oak Brook, Illinois, which killed an elderly couple
Reid Jacobsen, 72, and his wife Katherine, 67, were killed when Rendina allegedly plowed into their car at an intersection
Prosecutors also accused Rendina of going on a family vacation to Florida just one day after the fatal crash, per the petition to deny pre-trial release cited by Oxygen.com.
The 18-year-old continued sharing Snapchat videos of himself downing shots of alcohol and partying in nightclubs during the vacation, according to the petition.
Rendina was not arrested for over a month after the crash, until authorities said further investigation led them to detain the teenager on May 10.
In their appeal to have the teen's pre-trial release revoked, prosecutors also argued that Rendina has shown a pattern of reckless and dangerous driving.
They said in a separate case just four months before the fatal crash, Rendina pleaded guilty to speeding and disobeying a stop sign in January.
Prosecutors said Rendina had also been in court for another alleged speeding offence just days before the March 27 crash that killed the Jacobsens.
He was released following that court appearance after being hit with a court order, which Rendina allegedly quickly violated.
Reid (left) and Kathering Jacobsen (right) were tragically killed in the wreck
Prosecutors said Rendina has a history of reckless driving, and alleged that he filmed himself speeding in his BMW for Snapchat videos both before and after the crash
Rendina's BMW (pictured) allegedly speeded at over 104mph in a 45mph zone before the crash
The elderly couple were allegedly struck by Rendina's speeding vehicle, with Reid killed at the scene while his wife Katherine died soon after in hospital
Authorities said his alleged conduct before the crash showed he 'clearly did not think twice about the laws of the road which are designed to protect drivers.'
Rendina is next in court on June 30, where he is expected to enter a plea over the crash.
After the judge ordered Rendina to be re-arrested, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin thanked the judge and said the teenager 'poses a real and present threat to the residents of DuPage County.'
Berlin added that Rendina's detention came after prosecutors presented 'compelling arguments' that his 'alleged disregard for public safety and reckless behavior resulted in the death of Reid and Katherine Jacobsen.'
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