16-year-old facing second-degree murder charge in death of teen killed on bike in Holly Springs

HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. (WTVD) — A teenager is facing murder charges weeks after he allegedly drove into a 14-year-old riding his bike.

Court records show 16-year-old Ashton Rahlfs is facing a second-degree murder charge in the death of Max Dunham.

“Officers were immediately confronted with a crash site that morning that extended more than 210 feet and carefully documented the crucial pieces of evidence, including the extensive damage to the bicycle and motor vehicles,” said Holly Springs Police Chief Paul Liquorie.

He’s also facing a felony death by vehicle charge and felony serious injury by vehicle.

The charges come two weeks after Rahlfs allegedly hit and killed Max around 1:40 a.m. on Oct. 26 on Avent Ferry Road near Holly Meadow Drive before he was involved in a head-on collision with a different car.

Max was a freshman at Holly Springs High School.

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Police said that the investigation showed that Rahlfs had been driving carelessly and recklessly “for a significant time before the crash” and that he was going more than twice the 35 mph speed limit. Officers also discovered that there were alcoholic beverages in his car before the crash.

Rahlfs already had been charged in this case with driving in violation of his driver’s permit restrictions, driving after consuming alcohol younger than 21 years old, and driving while impaired on the morning of the crash. His roadside breath test indicated he had nearly twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system, and his intoximeter results taken later at the Law Enforcement Center showed a blood alcohol content of .11, police said.

After striking Max, police said Rahlfs’ car crossed the center line and crashed into another vehicle. That driver, 19-year-old Brandon Russel, was pinned in his car and seriously injured. Russel has spent weeks in the hospital recovering.

Russell’s family said he is about ready to come home. They have built a wheelchair ramp for him at the family’s home. On social media, they shared details about a “Benefit for Brandon” on Friday at Mac’s Tavern in Cary.

“I would like to thank the public, and in particular the Dunham and Russel families, for their patience as we ensured that this case was thoroughly and accurately investigated,” Liquorie said. “I also would like to recognize the exhaustive efforts of the officers and investigators, and other first responders, who performed extraordinarily throughout this complex investigation.”

Liquorie said Wednesday night that Rahlfs was arrested late Wednesday afternoon. He was being held without bond, and his first court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 1.

He said he hopes teens and parents learn from this situation.

“My hope is that that sentencing and this indictment are lessons for the youth in our town and elsewhere, that the choices they make can have dire consequences that cannot simply be fixed or taken back and will impact themselves and others for the rest of their lives,” Liquorie said.

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