The family of Patricia Garner, who died in a hit-and-run in Miami Gardens, Florida, is outraged after the driver, Sharon Cox, declined to apologize during her court appearance.
Cox, 65, received a four-year prison sentence on Tuesday after pleading guilty to the 2023 incident that resulted in Garner’s death and injuries to two others. Initially, prosecutors had offered her a plea deal that would have reduced her sentence, but Garner’s family urged for a harsher outcome, leading to the revised plea agreement.
In court, Cox faced charges related to the accident, and she was noted to have struck three individuals outside the Miami Gardens Community Center. However, during the sentencing, she did not express remorse, which shocked Garner’s family. Sandra Welch, Garner’s sister-in-law, pointed out, “She didn’t say a word.”
Before the family expressed their discontent, prosecutors had initially proposed just a one-year sentence, but due to the family’s strong reaction, that offer was rescinded.
Garner’s family feels the four-year sentence is insufficient for the gravity of the situation. Allie Mobley, Garner’s sister, shared her lingering hurt by stating, “We miss her and we will always miss her, but it hurts to get all the time I got by killing her.”
Aside from her prison time, Cox’s plea deal stipulates two years of probation, attendance at traffic school, and 100 hours of community service. Her driver’s license has also been revoked for five years.
Cox’s lawyer, Andrew Lear, commented that while the resolution may not please everyone involved, it reflects the complexity and tragedy of the case. Meanwhile, the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office emphasized that the sentence aligns with legal standards, acknowledging the deep pain stemming from such incidents. They expressed hope that Garner’s family could find some peace as they move forward.
