Woman Arrested in Connection with Fatal Crash near Perham Last Weekend

Pamela Breckenridge. (OTCDF)

Perham, MN – A woman has been arrested for aiding her son with committing a crime in connection with a fatal car crash early last Saturday morning.

Prosecutors say 50-year-old Pamela Jean Breckenridge of Dent lied to investigators when they were questioning her in regards to the death of 40-year-old Nicole Shoultz of Dent. Court documents say Shoultz was ejected from a pickup truck early Saturday morning, and Breckenridge and her son, 33-year-old Allen Alberts, brought her into Perham Hospital several hours after the crash.

Breckenridge initially told investigators that she was at Alberts and Shoultz’s residence Friday night, but Alberts wasn’t there due to a no-contact order issued by a judge earlier this year. She said that she had been the one to find Shoultz, and only contacted Alberts after finding her hurt. After being confronted with evidence that contradicted the story, she admitted to lying in order to protect Alberts.

Prosecutors say Alberts called Breckenridge after he brought Shoultz’s unconscious body back home. The two debated on whether or not to call 911 due to the no-contact order, until they realized Shoultz had stopped breathing. Nursing staff told deputies that Shoultz was dead upon arriving to the emergency room.

Breckenridge was taken into custody Thursday and made her first court appearance Friday morning. She is being charged with three counts of aiding a criminal offender. Alberts is charged with 2nd degree manslaughter and violating a no-contact order.