Newton Citizen

COVINGTON - The Social Circle teen accused of inadvertently killing his girlfriend with a front-end loader earlier this year was indicted by a Newton County grand jury last week.

According to Newton County District Attorney Ken Wynne, the defendant, Kyle Blake Holland, 18, was indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter, felony theft and criminal trespass.

Three others arrested in connection with the case - Cody Lee Smith, 17, of Covington; Tony Joe Burnett, 20, of Monticello; and Jeffrey Cantrell, 18, of Newborn - were each indicted on charges of felony theft and criminal trespass.

Authorities say 16-year-old Kerri Mincy of Monticello was killed after she became trapped underneath a front-end loader Holland was said to be operating.

According to authorities, the group of teens arrived at the Stanton Springs Technology Park construction site off U.S. Highway 278 about 5 p.m. Sept. 30 and started up some of the heavy equipment.

Mincy, a junior at Monticello High School, was riding with her boyfriend, Holland, on the side of one of the front-end loaders at the site. At one point, however, Holland encountered a steep grade in the landscape that went into a turn, and he over-corrected.

As Mincy attempted to jump off the piece of construction equipment, it tilted over onto her.

Upon arriving at the scene, deputies found Mincy dead, according to Lt. Bill Watterson, spokesman for the Newton County Sheriff's Office.

Watterson said there have been problems with people trespassing on the property, which is under development.

Joel Griffin can be reached at joel.griffin@newtoncitizen.com.