No bond for man accused of DUI deaths of two women in Tampa

A judge today rejected the latest bond request by a man who is accused of killing two women during a drunken 30-minute crash-fest.

Hillsborough Circuit Judge Thomas Barber refused to free Randy Archiquette who has been held without bond since his arrest in April.

"He's going to stay right where he is," Barber said. "There is nothing different."

Archiquette is charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and two counts of DUI manslaughter in the deaths of Betty Williams, 69, and Brittany McFarland, 20. He also faces other charges.

Today's bail attempt surprised McFarland's family who was in court expecting a standard case status conference.

"Praise God he's going to stay there," said Rachelle McFarland, Brittany's mother. "He is where he needs to be."

Kenny McFarland, her father, said the family is prepared no matter how long it takes to bring the case to trial.

"In the end, he will pay: whether it is here or in the next life," he said.

Assistant Public Defender Maura Doherty asked for bail, saying Archiquette had strong ties to the community; had no prior record; and was an honorably discharged Army veteran.

She said sufficient conditions could be imposed to protect the public.

Assistant State Attorney Barbara Coleman said Circuit Judge Walter Heinrich considered the same claims when he denied bond in April.

"Mr. Archiquette left a path of destruction from State Road 60 to Florida Avenue," she said. "The only thing that stopped him was his vehicle finally crashed."

Police said they got their first 911 call about Archiquette's 2007 Chevrolet Yukon when they reported he had rear-ended a tractor-trailer while heading west on Adamo Drive.

Another witness said the SUV pulled into a parking lot, turned around and headed east on Adamo. Another caller said the vehicle had sideswiped a Crown Victoria near North 39th Street.

Another caller said the Yukon rear-ended Williams' 1994 Geo while driving north on Florida Avenue, forcing it into a pole. The same caller then saw the Yukon veer into oncoming traffic, striking McFarland's Buick head-on.

The Yukon flipped and landed on its roof about a block north of Mohawk Avenue.

Police said Archiquette wouldn't take responsibility for the accidents when interviewed in the hospital.

Coleman said tests found alcohol and drugs in Archiquette's blood.

Barber scheduled another status conference for Jan. 22. He said he wants to set a trial date then. Archiquette's attorneys told him they expect the trial to be in April or May.