A wealthy trader’s wife accused of killing a man enjoying a first date with her Porsche while driving drunk has a healthy new look – and is continuing to live the high life as her trial looms.
It has been more than two years since Kristina Chambers struck and killed Joseph McMullin, 33, after losing control of her new Porsche 911 at 100mph following an evening of bar-hopping in Houston, Texas.
Chambers pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter and has spent the months since living at the $1.5 million three-bedroom, five-bathroom home she shares with her hedge fund manager ex-husband, Xuan Si, while she awaits trial.
The 34-year-old was spotted enjoying a leisurely stroll around her local neighborhood over the weekend, and appeared to be the picture of good health, sporting a light-blue Ralph Lauren t-shirt accessorized with a Longchamp purse.
The ex-Hooters waitress cut a remarkably different figure from the hunched, disheveled, wheelchair-bound woman who was escorted into court in a bright orange jumpsuit for her arraignment in April 2023.
The terms of Chambers’ release mean she is unable to drive unless she finds a job, is forbidden from consuming alcohol, and must adhere to a curfew between 8pm and 6am.
Si, 38, filed for divorce from Chambers within days of that hearing. However, while their marriage was terminated on paper, court records obtained by the Daily Mail suggest their relationship may have continued behind closed doors.
Various court filings also suggest that Chambers’ life of luxury hasn’t ceased on account of McMullin’s death or the legal peril she faces.
She has reportedly been splashing the cash on designer labels at the luxury department store Neiman Marcus and even throwing a glamorous birthday brunch for herself.
Kristina Chambers has been out on bond since late April 2023. New court documents reveal secrets of the life she has led since her arrest, including shopping sprees and suspicious divorce filings
The 34-year-old was spotted leaving the home over the weekend in a light-blue Ralph Lauren t-shirt, dark blue leggings, and clear-framed sunglasses
She enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the local neighborhood and was also seen retrieving an Amazon package from her front porch
The fatal wreck: Chambers had only bought the $100k Porsche 911 a few days before the crash that claimed a 33-year-old man’s life
James McMullin was launched 30 feet in the air on impact and died at the scene from a blunt-force trauma to his head
Details of her charmed lifestyle while on bond surfaced as part of a $1 million wrongful death lawsuit filed by McMullin’s family against Chambers, her husband Si, and four Houston bars she allegedly visited the night of the crash.
Si has been accused by the McMullins of negligent entrustment for purchasing Chambers the $100,000 Porsche 911 Carrera S that fatally struck their son.
It was paid for in cash on April 2, 2023, just days before McMullin’s death, records show.
The lawsuit claims that Chambers was unemployed and financially dependent on Si, and he entrusted her to operate the powerful sports car despite knowing she was ‘an unfit driver’ because of her alleged history of alcohol and drug use.
In an October 2023 deposition, Si denied purchasing the car for Chambers. He told the McMullins’ lawyers she bought the car herself using cash from their joint account, that the car was hers and she didn’t need his permission to use it.
Si also denied that his wife had a drinking problem, denied ever witnessing her consume drugs, and said, to his knowledge, she had never driven while drunk.
His remarks differed greatly from comments made by Chambers after the crash.
Chambers is not permitted to drive unless she finds a job. She hasn’t worked since 2017, court records suggest
Various court filings also suggest that Chambers’ life of luxury hasn’t ceased on account of McMullin’s death
Kristina Chambers (seen with ex-husband Xuan Si) was charged with manslaughter in April 2023 after striking a pedestrian at 100pmh while allegedly four times over the legal blood-alcohol limit
Chambers’ trial has been subject to numerous delays and set-backs over the past two years, with the latest coming last Monday following a filing from her attorneys
McMullin was walking along the sidewalk on a first date when he was struck by Chambers’ speeding Porsche
Records show Chambers told a social worker at the hospital that she drinks between four and five alcoholic beverages two or three times a week.
Chambers told the worker that she had been ‘pressured’ by her husband ‘multiple times’ to reduce her drinking, which Si denied.
Sebastian Lopez, a close friend of Chambers, who was in the Porsche on the night of the crash, said during his deposition that Chambers was an ‘alcoholic’ and claimed Si knew she drank often and did drugs.
Lopez further testified that Chambers had driven drunk on multiple occasions with him, including a ‘handful’ of times after she got the Porsche.
Since learning of Chambers’ alleged alcohol and drug issues, Si admitted he still hasn’t encouraged her to go to rehab.
‘I’m not a doctor,’ he said. ‘I don’t infringe on people’s medical decisions.’
Si and Chambers met at a bar in 2012. He filed for divorce within days of her arrest but court documents obtained by the Daily Mail suggest that the couple were still living together for more than a year – and might still be cohabiting now
Chambers has been living at this $1.5 million home in Houston. Property records show the deed was transferred into her name in January 2024, a month before her divorce was finalized
Chambers was not seen wearing a wedding ring over the weekend
Life of luxury: Chambers has apparently been splashing the cash on designer labels at the luxury department store Neiman Marcus since being released on bail, court records suggest
Chambers even threw herself a glamorous birthday brunch with a group of friends – but no alcohol was served at the party
The McMullins’ wrongful death lawsuit was filed in June 2023.
Si filed for divorce from Chambers a month earlier, on May 3, just two weeks after the crash.
In his October 2023 deposition, Si told the McMullins’ attorney that he decided to separate from Chambers because her legal woes change ‘what I thought I engaged into by entering a marriage contract’.
Si denied any insinuations that his decision to split from Chambers was financially motivated or an attempt to safeguard his assets and wealth from any future potential civil liabilities.
However, the nature of their relationship after Si filed for divorce is murky, court records show.
As of October 2023, Si testified that he and Chambers were still living together at their $1.5 million Houston home.
When asked if it was ‘awkward’ to share living arrangements with his soon-to-be-ex wife, when he claims that they’re no longer together, Si responded: ‘As opposed to what? Kicking her out on the street?’
As of October 2023, Si testified that he and Chambers were still living together at their $1.5 million Houston. Si is a hedge fund manager and Chambers hasn’t been employed since at least 2017
A friend of Chambers testified during a deposition that he had witnessed her drink and drive ‘a handful’ of times in her new Porsche before the crash
The sports car was paid for in cash on April 2, 2023, just days before McMullin’s death, records show, and both Si and Chambers are named on the purchasing agreement (stock image)
Chambers’ attorneys confirmed in an August 2024 filing that Si still ‘lives on Ms. Chambers’ property.’
While the terms of their divorce are private, property records show that the couple’s $1.5 million home was transferred from Si’s name to Chambers on January 12, 2024 – a month before their divorce was finalized.
A second property owned by the couple in Houston, a townhouse-style condo, was transferred from Chambers to Si on February 2, 2024. That property sold earlier this month for an undisclosed fee, having been listed for $719,000.
Neither Si nor Chambers has another registered address in Houston.
Si also denied he was still supporting Chambers financially but offered no alternative explanation as to where she was getting money after confirming she was unemployed.
The Daily Mail has received no response to a request for comment from the couple.
Lopez said during his deposition in July 2024 that he was unsure if the pair were still together but admitted seeing them with each other on more than one occasion, including at the birthday brunch Chambers threw for herself in February 2024.
Various court filings also suggest that Chambers’ life of luxury hasn’t ceased on account of McMullin’s death or the legal peril she faces
A friend told lawyers that Chambers has spent thousands at the Neiman Marcus store where he works, splashing anywhere from $10k-$20k in a single shopping trip
A second Houston property owned by the couple was sold in May after being listed for $719k. Property records show the home was in Si’s name at the time
Lopez estimated there were 10 guests at the party, including Si, but said that no alcohol was served.
‘She told me she’s been sober,’ said Lopez. ‘She’s not drinking at all ever since the accident.’
Chambers’ sobriety is non-negotiable. As part of the terms of her release, she is required to wear a special ankle monitor 24/7, which tests perspiration on the skin for alcohol.
Within days of her release on bail, Chambers’ monitor was tampered with and tested positive for alcohol, court records show.
Her attorneys claimed she was undergoing ankle surgery at the time and no tampering had occurred.
Lopez said he rarely sees Chambers now. Their paths tend to cross only when she comes in to shop at the Neiman Marcus store where he is employed.
He claimed in 2024 that Chambers had been to the store a handful of times since he started working there in 2022, sometimes spending upwards of $10,000, and, on at least one occasion, $20,000.
Lopez added that just two weeks before his deposition, she had ventured in to buy a pair of Bottega Veneta heels and some other designer items – months after a similar shopping haul but declined to share how much Chambers had spent.
As part of the terms of her release, Chambers is required to wear a Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor (SCRAM) 24/7, which tests perspiration on the skin for alcohol
Within days of her release on bail, Chambers’ SCRAM device was tampered with and tested positive for alcohol, court records show – but her attorneys claim she was having ankle surgery at the time and denied she’d consumed alcohol
Si claimed to attorneys for the McMullin family that Chambers rarely drank and he had no knowledge of her taking cocaine – but a close friend of the accused said otherwise
A trial date for Chambers has not yet been set.
Police allege she was almost four times over the legal drinking limit at the time of her arrest.
Lopez told attorneys that they had been on their way back to Chambers’ home to go swimming before the deadly crash that tragically claimed McMullin’s life.
McMullin was launched 30 feet into the air on impact and was pronounced dead at the scene, having suffered a blunt-force trauma to his head.
Lopez had to be resuscitated at the scene and spent weeks in the hospital with a brain bleed.
A third passenger, identified in court records as Ms. Reyes, had to be cut out of her seatbelt by a group of good Samaritans.
Reyes told the McMullin family attorneys that Chambers was bragging that evening about how fast her Porsche could go, according to court records.
Chambers has held only a handful of odd jobs, working in a salon and a handful of restaurants, including a Hooters, records show
McMullin’s family told the Daily Mail they’re devestated Chambers’ trial has been repeatedly pushed back
On Monday, Chambers’ attorney, Mark Thiessen, filed to remove the local District Attorney from her criminal trial due to a conflict of interest between the DA and one of the trial’s key witnesses.
The motion has not yet been ruled on, but it will likely cause further delays.
In a statement to the Daily Mail, Thiessen said the motion was necessary to ensure his client gets a fair trial.
Thiessen previously represented Si in an alleged DWI case in Houston in 2012, and the charges were later dropped, records show.
McMullin’s family told the Daily Mail they are devastated over Thiessen’s latest filing.
‘It has now been two years since Joe was senselessly stolen from us, and the emotional toll is more than one can imagine,’ his mom, Lynn McMullin, wrote in an emailed statement.
‘Every delay in the criminal judicial system adds to our immeasurable pain.’
