Elliott Lincoln Binney pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and other charges in a 2024 rollover crash that killed his 16-year-old daughter Shelby. The 43-year-old father admitted to drinking vodka moments before the wreck and fleeing the scene on foot, leaving his wife and other children behind. Prosecutors recommend two to five years in prison followed by probation.
Elliott Lincoln Binney entered his guilty plea on Friday in Tulsa County court to first-degree manslaughter, child neglect, leaving the scene of a fatal accident, and transporting an open container. In exchange, prosecutors dropped a reckless driving charge. The plea stems from a single-vehicle rollover on January 11, 2024, near East 171st Street South in Bixby, Oklahoma, where Bixby Police and fire crews responded to reports of a serious accident amid poor weather conditions. Shelby Binney was ejected from the vehicle and later died from her injuries, while Binney's wife and two other children received hospital treatment after remaining inside the SUV. Witnesses reported Binney driving at high speed on a rain-slicked road, attempting to pass vehicles in a no-passing zone. Investigators found an open vodka bottle at the scene, and Binney admitted taking a gulp of alcohol just before losing control and flipping the vehicle, Tulsa NBC affiliate KJRH reported. Instead of aiding his family, Binney fled on foot before first responders arrived, later retrieving another vehicle from a nearby business and driving away. Authorities tracked him to Checotah, about 50 miles east, where he was arrested. Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler described the case as tragic, stating, 'Ultimately, the facts involve him driving very recklessly in bad weather and ultimately resulted in him flipping his vehicle and ejecting one of his daughters. Mr. Binney didn't remain at the scene. He fled … leaving his wife and his remaining children in the car.' He added, 'You can't just do those kinds of things to another human being, even if it's your own child.' Binney, previously out on bond, was remanded into custody awaiting sentencing on June 8.