A modicum of justice was achieved for the deaths of two teenage girls in a drunk driving accident near Las Vegas about 18 months ago, when both the adult passengers in the car, their mother and aunt, were sentenced to prison.
On the night of Dec. 11, 2022, Kayleeah Manning was riding in a van in North Las Vegas, Nevada. As The Blaze News previously reported, her sister, Raynisa Claydette Glenn Washington, was in the passenger seat, while Washington’s two daughters, Taylor Wilmer, 3, and Rose Wilmer, 2, were restrained in the back seat with adult seat belts.
“The thing is, I don’t know if all of these mistakes are possible for a responsible parent to make.”
Suddenly, Manning veered out of his lane, hit a curb, struck a small tree and a light pole before crashing into a large palm tree.
As a result of the accident, little Rose was decapitated and pronounced dead at the scene, while her sister Taylor was taken to hospital but died from her injuries the following day.
Manning and Washington were also taken to hospital where they remained in critical condition and were both detained while they were treated for their injuries.
Witnesses claim that at least one of the women was “disinterested” in the fatal accident. “As she got out of the car she stepped on the baby and walked towards the grass,” one witness said.
Another witness claimed one of the women “left her baby there.” It is unclear whether the witness was referring to Manning or Washington.
Evidence that Manning had been drinking was clear from the start: police described her as having bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and a strong odor of “alcoholic beverages” on her breath. An examination conducted about two hours after the accident revealed that she had been drinking heavily. Reportedly Her blood alcohol level was found to be over 0.19, more than twice the legal limit.
Manning reportedly admitted to having two shots of tequila that night. Washington Reportedly Her sister told police she may have shared an entire bottle of tequila with a friend.
Washington also reportedly admitted that she knew it was wrong to put a toddler in an adult seat belt instead of a car seat, but felt “no argument” was made because it wasn’t her car. Other reports said Washington had sold the car seat a week before the accident.
Manning, 25, was initially indicted on a number of serious charges, but was cleared in April. Pleaded guilty He was found guilty of two counts of drunk driving causing death. That same month, Washington, 27, pleaded guilty to two counts of child abuse or neglect.
On Thursday, both women stood before Judge Erica Mendoza to be informed of their sentences, both of them in tears as they gave statements asking for clemency.
“Even if it was an accident, even if I never intended to hurt my children, even if it was a mistake, it’s still my responsibility,” Washington said. “And today I’m prepared to take full responsibility for this, and I intend to do so for the rest of my life.”
“I never imagined I would cause so much pain to my family, my niece and myself,” Manning said, “but while serving my sentence I entered the SOARS program in search of the help I needed to understand myself and what brought me to the position I am in.”
Judge Mendoza herself was reportedly in tears, but still sentenced both women to prison.
Manning was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison, with credit for 108 days already served, and will have to wear a breathalyzer in his car for at least a year after his release.
Washington was sentenced to just under a year in prison, minus 11 days already served. She was also given prison time, but the sentence was immediately suspended.
Washington will not receive a suspended sentence if he remains in good standing on probation after his release, but he could return to prison if he violates any technicalities, the judge ruled.
After the accident, Washington gave birth to a baby boy and is currently pregnant, due in December.
Washington asked to postpone the start of her sentence until Monday so she could say goodbye to her son, but Judge Mendoza refused.
“The thing is, I don’t know if all of these mistakes are possible for a responsible parent to make,” Mendoza said.
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