The sentencing hearing

We had court yesterday, finally, after 21 long months of waiting. We went into the courtroom and Chrissie had lots of family and friends there for support. I'm sure we would have had more if we were local as well. You can't begin to imagine how much traveling to and from South Carolina 3 times has cost us financially as well as emotionally. My dad lives in Arizona and we live in Florida. Add in hotels, food, time off work, etc.

Anyway, I hugged her mom before we went in. From the first moment I met her mom, I knew this was a woman who was torn apart inside. Her heart was broken. I held my composure all along until I came face-to-face with her mother. As a mother, I can't begin to understand what it feels like to know your child has caused the death of someone else's child.

Chrissie came in wearing an orange-striped jumpsuit and she was shackled. She was shackled the entire time. I can't imagine how humiliating that was for her. In front of her parents, her grandparents, her boyfriend, her boss. That would be enough of a deterrent for me to never do it again if I were her. People can't understand when I say I have compassion for her. It's hard to explain. I just kept looking at her yesterday thinking, "She is in shock right now. She must be thinking how did this happen to her?" I wished and prayed to God that it wouldn't have been her. It's too hard to hate her. I wished instead she was some type of psychopathic monster so it would be easy to go through with court and sentencing. It was so hard to watch this girl who had such a great life, who was so smart and had such a promising future and a family who loved her, ruin her life. I just didn't want it for her.

Mom gave her statement first, then Dad, then me. It was so hard. As soon as I got in front of the judge, panic washed over me. I couldn't stop shaking. I was choking back the tears. It was overwhelming, to say the least.

Then it was the defense's turn. Her boss spoke, one of her college professor's spoke, her psychologist and then her mom. That was the hardest to sit through was her mom's statement.

Chrissie had the chance to speak. I felt everything she said was sincere and honest and I truly believe she will never do anything like this again. I truly believe she will follow through on her word to go out and make a difference in the lives of young people and I can't wait to see it happen.

We found out she had cut her hair and donated it to Locks of Love in Stephen's name. She planted a tree outside her bedroom window to remember him. She has done counseling and gone to town hall meetings about drunk driving. She has started herself on the path to redemption.

The judge stepped out to deliberate with the attorneys. My mom started to panic and cry. She said, "I don't think she needs to go to prison. She's not a monster. Should I say something?" I didn't want her to go away for long either. My dad said, "We have to trust that God will tell that to the judge and he'll listen." I must admit though, right before the judge came in, I bowed my head and prayed to God quickly, "God, please don't give her a long time in prison. Please."

The judge came in. He started to make his ruling. He started out and said, "I sentence you to 15 years--" and I felt like I got punched in the stomach. I hung my head, cried and shook my head. That's not what we wanted, nor expected. Then he continued on with the rest of it..."suspended upon the following conditions..."

And they were:

* 1 year in prison
* 3 years house arrest
* 300 hours community service with MADD, talking to young people
* $10,000 fines/court costs
* $1,850 paid back to my dad for Stephen's funeral expenses

If she messes up in those 4 years, she will serve the remainder of the 15 years in prison.

Also, with the house arrest:

* She may not leave Greenville, SC for 3 years
* She has to pay $8.00 per day for the ankle monitoring equipment (Approximately $240 per month)
* She can only go to the doctor, school, work, church, attorney's office

We are pleased with the sentence. We feel it is balanced and fair and the judge made a good decision. He feels she has the potential to do great things and to change lives, and that's what Stephen would have wanted.

Thank you everyone who has stuck by my family and followed this case from day 1. You don't know how much we appreciate you.

And to Chrissie's family, if you're reading this, we pray for you all the time. There's not a day that goes by that we don't think of you or of Chrissie. We constantly think about what life must be like in your shoes and wouldn't wish any of this on anyone. We don't hate Chrissie. We are sorry for her and we hope she makes good on her promise to us.