KENOSHA, Wis. — Ashley L. Nolder, 35, of Burlington, was ordered held Wednesday on a $250,000 cash bond after prosecutors alleged she drove with a blood alcohol concentration of .211—more than two-and-a-half times the legal limit—before crashing into and killing 49-year-old motorcyclist Angelina “Angel” Christina Principato while two 9-year-old children rode in her SUV. Nolder now faces more than 75 years in prison if convicted.

Court Commissioner William Michel set the cash bail following an emotional hearing in which Principato’s daughter, Ashley Richmond, tearfully described learning of her mother’s death and later having to identify her through a tattoo because her injuries were too severe to allow a viewing.

“My mom was the kind of mom that everyone wished they had,” Richmond told the court. “We lost not only our mother, but a friend, aunt, and colleague to so many.”

Richmond said she was home with her young child and pregnant with another baby when she first learned about the crash through a Facebook post about a female biker being struck.

“I thought what any person would tell themselves — I’m sure she’s fine. It wouldn’t happen to her,” Richmond said.

According to the criminal complaint, the crash happened around 8:01 p.m. on Sept. 22, 2025, in the 27400 block of County Highway C in Salem Lakes. Investigators allege Nolder attempted to turn left onto 274th Avenue and drove directly into the path of Principato’s Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Bystanders found Principato unconscious in the roadway with catastrophic injuries, including severe facial trauma and a broken leg. CPR was performed at the scene before she was transported to Aurora Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 8:41 p.m.

Authorities say Nolder initially denied consuming alcohol when deputies questioned her at the crash scene. However, after agreeing to a blood draw at the hospital, she allegedly admitted to drinking Captain Morgan and Diet Coke mixed drinks prior to driving. Testing later showed her BAC was .211.

The complaint states Nolder admitted she “felt safe to drive” and told deputies she believed she “cut the biker off” and was at fault.

Investigators also allege two 9-year-old children were inside Nolder’s vehicle during the crash. Prosecutors charged her with additional counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety and child neglect related to the children.

During Wednesday’s hearing, District Attorney Xavier Solis requested the full $250,000 cash bond, citing the seriousness of the allegations, the extremely high BAC, and the presence of children in the vehicle. Attorney Theodore Kmiec, representing Nolder, requested a $10,000 cash bond.

Michel said the court had “great concern” about the allegations and called the facts “very concerning.”

“What we have allegedly is a pretty strong case,” Michel said from the bench. “We have an individual with a .21 BAC that was involved in this homicide by intoxicant use of a vehicle.”

Michel also noted concern that the case involved two children inside the vehicle and said the court had authority to set bail high enough to protect the community. He ordered Nolder taken into custody in court after setting the bond.

As conditions of bond, Michel ordered Nolder not to consume alcohol or drugs without a prescription, not to drive without a valid license, and to report to Wisconsin Community Services if released. He also ordered no contact with witnesses, members of Principato’s family, and several others connected to the case.

Outside the courtroom, Richmond told reporters it was “relieving” to finally see Nolder taken into custody after remaining free for months while the investigation continued.

“She got to walk free and enjoy life while we’ve been waiting for answers,” Richmond said.

Richmond described her mother as “the rock to our family” and said the loss has permanently affected her family and Principato’s grandchildren.

“There’s nothing in this world she wanted more than to be a grandma, and that was taken from her,” Richmond said in court.

Richmond later told reporters she believes prison time is appropriate.

“You don’t randomly get in a car one day that drunk for the first time,” she said. “You’ve done this before and this was just the unfortunate time that something happened.”

Principato’s other daughter, Cassie Kinney, described her mother after the hearing as a “pain in the ass” in “a loving way,” adding, “I love her so much.”

Principato, known to family and friends as “Angel,” was remembered as an outgoing woman who loved traveling, reading, painting, and riding her motorcycle. She was also a mother and grandmother whose daughters said she was deeply involved in their daily lives.

Nolder is charged with two counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, multiple OWI-related counts involving minor children, child neglect, and obstructing an officer for allegedly lying about drinking alcohol.

If convicted on all major felony counts, Nolder faces more than 75 years in prison.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 13, 2026, before Court Commissioner William Michel.

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