Kata Hay, a former contestant on the American talent show The Voice, has been taken into custody in Oklahoma on an active warrant from Tennessee related to a fatal car crash.
Arrest and Extradition Proceedings
The Osage County Sheriff's Department in Oklahoma confirmed the arrest of the 38-year-old, whose real name is Kata Huddleston, early on Wednesday morning. She was detained on a warrant issued by the Goodlettsville Police Department in Tennessee for vehicular homicide. According to TMZ, Hay is scheduled to appear before a district court judge on Monday, December 22, to sign an extradition waiver, paving the way for her return to Tennessee.
Online records viewed by the Daily Mail indicate she is currently held at the Osage County Jail in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. The hold is for the Goodlettsville authorities and on allegations of being a fugitive from justice.
Details of the Alleged Crime and Prior Offences
The vehicular homicide charge stems from a deadly collision on Long Hollow Pike, near Interstate 65 in Tennessee. The Goodlettsville Police have released few specifics about the crash but previously issued a BOLO (Be On The Lookout) alert. They stated they believed Hay was 'traveling with a white male and quite possibly towing a large camper' while heading toward Oklahoma.
This serious allegation follows a troubling legal history for Hay. Davidson County records in Tennessee show she has an open misdemeanor DUI case, listed as her second offence after a 2016 conviction. She also faces separate misdemeanor charges for leaving the scene of an accident causing over $1,500 in damage and for allegedly having an open container. These offences are noted as occurring on Wednesday, December 10.
A History of Convictions Involving a Minor
In 2022, Hay pleaded guilty to having sexual contact with a minor. The case involved a 16-year-old boy, whom she was accused of kissing and touching inappropriately on multiple occasions against his will. The incident reportedly occurred while she was intoxicated and staying at the home of the boy's mother, who was a friend.
During testimony, Hay admitted the victim's account was not a lie, which led to her guilty plea, but she insisted the context was different. She stated, 'No, it was not a lie. That’s why I pled guilty, but it did not happen in that way.' She was unable to provide further details, citing her intoxication at the time. Hay was subsequently sentenced to six months in prison for this crime.
The Daily Mail has contacted both the Goodlettsville Police Department and the Osage County Sheriff's Department for further comment but has not yet received a response.
