Woman accused in fatal hit-and-run of Houston cyclist appears in court

Margaret Mayer waits in the 230th State District Court at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse. She's charged with an accident involving death of Chelsea Norman, 24, who was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital and pronounced dead on Dec. 4, 2013. (Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle) less Margaret Mayer waits in the 230th State District Court at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse. She's charged with an accident involving death of Chelsea Norman, 24, who was transported to Memorial Hermann ... more Image 1 of / 33 Caption Close Woman accused in fatal hit-and-run of Houston cyclist appears in court 1 / 33 Back to Gallery

Margaret Renee Mayer, 35, accused of fatally injuring Montrose bicyclist Chelsea Norman, appeared Thursday in court. She is charged with failure to stop and render aid.

Mayer was arrested Feb. 5 and is free on $30,000 bond.

As a condition of Mayer's bond, Judge Brad Hart ordered that if she drives she must use an intoxilyzer in the vehicle. Her next court date is March 21.

Norman, 24, was gravely injured in the crash about 10:20 p.m. Dec. 1 in the 1600 block of Waugh. She was pronounced dead Dec. 4 at Memorial Hermann Hospital.

According to court documents, a woman who works with Mayer told investigators that Mayer contacted her Dec. 2 and told her she was very intoxicated the night before and that she had gotten lost somewhere on Waugh Drive. The coworker also told investigators that Mayer said she thought she had hit someone because her window was shattered but she couldn't remember what happened, the arrest warrant states.

Mayer's case has not gone to a grand jury, but her attorney, Guy Womack, said that when it does, he's confident his client will be no-billed.

"She has cooperated fully (with the state) from the beginning," Womack said after the court appearance. "She gave them her truck to examine. They disassembled it at the crime lab and kept it for about four weeks."

The examination of the truck proved nothing links it to the accident, Womack said.

"They found nothing on her vehicle - no tissue, no blood, no hair, nothing, and at the scene where the accident occurred, they found nothing from that truck," he said. "It was a terrible accident, but Ms. Mayer was not a part of it."

Assistant District Attorney Janna Oswald, however, said the state has a good case.

"We're making sure we have all the witness statements we need to have a complete case," she said. "We'll exchange information with the defense counsel probably in the next couple of settings and then start to make decisions as to how this case is going to proceed from there."

Randy Norman, Chelsea's father, also spoke with reporters outside the courtroom. He said it was difficult to see the defendant "walking around" when his daughter has been dead for two months.

Randy Norman and his wife traveled from their home in New Braunfels for Thursday's court appearance.

"This is the beginning of the process when we can actually see that the person who did it takes responsibility for her actions," he said. "That's all we're looking for."