Case # 16WF1821
San Clemente Man Found Guilty of Second Degree Murder of 10-Year-Old Girl While Driving Under the Influence of Drugs
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A jury today found Adam John Kanas, 39, of San Clemente, guilty of second degree murder for killing 10-year old Kendra Geddis in 2016 after swerving across several lanes on the I-405 in Seal Beach and slamming into the back of the Tesla Geddis was riding in, killing Geddis and seriously injuring her 13-year-old sister and father. Kanas was driving while under the influence of central nervous system depressants at the time.
Kanas was also convicted of two counts of driving under the influence of drugs causing great injury and two enhancements for inflicting great bodily injury. He will be sentenced on January 10, 2020. He faces 41 years to life in state prison.
On August 15, 2016 at approximately 9:20 a.m., Kanas was driving his 2013 Chevy Tahoe erratically at speeds of nearly 80 mph. He swerved across multiple lanes and the double yellow line into the carpool lane on northbound I-405 near the Seal Beach Boulevard Exit.
Donald Geddis was driving his Tesla with his two daughters asleep in the back seat, 10-year-old Kendra and 13-year-old Kayla. Geddis was slowing for traffic while driving in the carpool lane when Kanas slammed into the rear of the Tesla at approximately 68 miles per hour, sending the Tesla into a Honda Civic.
Kendra died as a result of the impact. Her sister and father were seriously injured. Kanas was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Kanas has a prior conviction for driving under the influence and a prior-strike conviction for first-degree burglary in Los Angeles County.
“Choosing to get behind the wheel after you have been drinking or using drugs is a choice that can have deadly consequences. That decision cost a 10-year-old girl her life – and cost her family a lifetime of memories with their little girl,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “Drugged driving is up more than 120 percent in Orange County over the last five years and it has to stop.”
Deputy District Attorney Daniel Feldman prosecuted the case.