Man Who Killed Child While Drunk Driving To Go To Court On Another DWI Charge

A Noel man that previously spent time in prison for hitting and killing a Neosho girl and her grandfather while he was intoxicated in 2004 will go before the judge once again on Thursday in McDonald County on another DWI charge.

You’ll remember 7-year-old Jessica Mann and 69-year-old James Dodson were walking to the mailbox at Dodson’s home on Highway 86 in Neosho when 63-year-old Edward Meerwald hit them.

Meerwald was released early on his involuntary manslaughter conviction, and Judge John LePage restored Meerwald’s driving privileges in January 2017, saying he was no longer a danger to society.

Less than a year and a half after his license was reinstated, Meerwald was arrested again during a traffic stop in June 2018 on Highway 59. He told the trooper at the time he had only drank two beers, but would likely fail the breath test. His blood alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit.