A state judge jailed a St. Albans woman on Thursday for several hours as she continued her refusal to turn over the passcode to her cellphone that she was using the day of a fatal motor vehicle crash with two motorcyclists on Father’s Day last year.

By late Thursday afternoon Ellen E. Willson, 39, of Federal Street was due to be released from the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington after she eventually provided the correct passcode.

A court order directing the prison to release WIllson was being prepared shortly before 4:30 p.m., officials said.

She had been taken into custody during the court hearing by Grand Isle County Sheriff Ray Allen and Patrol Sgt. Jason Essinger about 11:45 a.m.  She was taken to a holding cell until paperwork could be prepared to jail her.  The sheriff’s department soon left with Willson for the trip to South Burlington.  She was lodged about 1 p.m., prison records show. 

Judge Navah Spero had made clear to Willson that she could clear the contempt of court citation and regain her freedom once she turned over the actual passcode that she has been hiding from law enforcement.

“You hold the keys,” the judge told WIllson.

WIllson broke down crying as her lawyer continued to argue to no avail. 

Willson reportedly provided a new set of possible passcodes shortly after Spero ordered her jailed.

Judge Spero had said that she did not believe Willson and her defense lawyer Richard McCormick when they said she was having trouble remembering the passcode and had denied ownership of the cellphone.

State Trooper Jordan Peterson, while dealing with Willson at the fatal crash scene, detected her deleting information from the phone.  At one point, Willson reported that “my mom keeps calling me….” Peterson reported.   He added that Willson said she needed “all my numbers and everything are in here.”

Those incriminating comments were captured on audio and video by state police and were apparently some of the evidence Judge Spero used to find the suspect owned the iPhone.

Grand Isle County State’s Attorney Doug DiSabito provided more documentation this week that indicated the phone was owned by Ellen Willson and had the phrase “Ellen’s phone” in its system.

Two weeks ago Willson, formerly of Alburgh, reportedly provided six possible passcodes to the cellphone during a court hearing, but they all turned out to be false – and didn’t have enough digits for the Apple phone.  They should have six digits, but Willson provided only four-digit combinations, court records show

DiSabito added this week a felony charge of obstruction of justice against Willson for her latest conduct.   She has continuously declined to provide the passcode to the cellphone between March 2 and April 30, Vermont State Trooper Seth Boudreau said. 

“She has obstructed every step of the way,” DiSabito said after McCormick tried to argue there was not enough probable cause to file the new charge. 

“We don’t believe her,” DiSabito said.   

Judge Spero said she agreed with the state.  

“This is a fishing expedition,” McCormack tried to argue.  The judge was not buying.

McCormick threw out a series of arguments during the hearing in the hopes one would stick, but none did.  He even asked Judge Spero to hold the Vermont State Police in contempt of court for not bringing the cellphone to the hearing.

She quickly rejected the idea.

McCormick later tried to block news photographs of his client being put into handcuffs in the courtroom.  The Islander was the only media outlet with staff in the courtroom for the hearing and McCormick kept moving side to side, trying to block pictures of WIllson.

Willson pleaded not guilty to the new charge of obstruction of justice.

Earlier she pleaded not guilty to a charge of manslaughter for killing Hunter Rounds, 20, of Grand Isle in a head-on crash when her southbound truck crossed the double yellow line on U.S. 2 in North Hero near Savage Point Road on June 15, 2025. Rounds died at the scene.

Willson also struck the victim’s father, Jason Rounds, 51, of Grand Isle, who was on a second motorcycle, Vermont State Police said.  He was seriously injured in the 1:45 p.m. crash and taken to the UVM Medical Center in Burlington with multiple injuries. Rounds underwent several surgeries and was eventually discharged, officials said.

Wilson also has denied two counts of gross and negligent operation: one with death resulting and the second with serious bodily injury.

During the hearing Thursday, the announcement by Spero that she would jail Willson brought a loud gasp from the nearly three dozen supporters of the Rounds family.  Many have been unhappy that WIllson has been free on conditions, including a prohibition against driving.

Spero quickly ordered silence in the court.  

The judge made clear that Willson would remain in prison until she gave up the passcode.  If she was not out in two weeks, the judge said she would have another court hearing.  She stressed Willson would go free as soon as she cooperated.

Even with WIllson providing the proper passcode, the four criminal charges will still proceed.