The man charged with the murder/death of “Gone Girl” actress, Lisa Banes, by recklessly knocking her over with his electric scooter on a NYC street, pleaded guilty of manslaughter on Wednesday. He faces a sentence of between one to three years in prison.
Brian Boyd, 27, pleaded guilty to the fatal hit-and-run crime more than a year after the incident. His sentencing will be ordered on November 30.
Boyd fatally struck Banes with his electric scooter in June 2021.
According to the New York Police Department, the popular actress, who is known for portraying the character Mary Beth in David Fincher’s award-winning film “Gone Girl,” and Lucy Hendrix in “Murder, She Wrote,” was hit by Boyd’s scooter near the intersection of Amsterdam Avenue and West 64th Street. Authorities found her on the pavement with severe head injuries.
Boyd quickly fled the scene after the accident and did not report the accident. Police launched an investigation to find the driver of the electric vehicle.
Banes was hospitalized at Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital, and was said to have suffered an extremely traumatic brain injury, that caused her death. On July 14, 2021, just a week after the hit-and-run, she passed away at age 65.
Brian Boyd was arrested about a month after the incident, in August 2021, and was charged with leaving the crime scene, which resulted in Lisa’s death, and failure to leave space for pedestrians. He was arraigned in court on August 6, 2021, and remained in police custody until his hearing.
Boyd pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the second degree and fleeing the accident scene, failing to report it to police.
Prosecutors from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office sought three to nine years imprisonment for Boyd, but the judge recommended a less severe sentence.
Alvin Bragg, Manhattan District Attorney, said in a statement that Boyd drove recklessly with little or no regard for pedestrians, fatally hitting Lisa Banes, a beloved actress and New Yorker, and then speeding away to escape accountability. He consoled Lisa’s family, friends, and fans who watched her throughout her acting career, which spanned decades.
Banes was a Juilliard-trained actress who appeared in several Broadway productions, including, “Accent on Youth,” “High Society,” “Present Laughter,” and “Rumors.” She also starred in films, including “Combustion,” “Gone Girl,” “Look Back in Anger,” “Cocktail,” “A Killer Among Us,” and “Close Encounter.” Lisa had recurring roles in television shows: “Nashville,” “Six Feet Under,” “Royal Pains,” “Legacy,” and “The Orville,” among others.
