A Florida woman has been sentenced to four years in prison after causing a hit-and-run that resulted in the death of her grandmother, Patricia Garner. Sharon Cox, 65, pleaded guilty for the incident which occurred in a Miami Gardens Community Center parking lot in 2023, where she also injured two other individuals. Despite the conviction, Cox did not express any remorse during her sentencing, frustrating Garner’s family who have been advocating for accountability.
After the hearing, Sandra Welch, Garner’s sister-in-law, expressed her disappointment, stating, “Cox never stood up and said she was sorry. She didn’t say a word.” This incident prompted outrage earlier in the year when it was revealed that prosecutors had initially proposed a plea deal that would have resulted in only one year in prison for Cox.
Following public criticism from family advocates and the community, that plea deal was retracted, leading to the revised four-year sentence. “You have to fight for the people you love,” Garner’s brother, Bruce Baskin, remarked. “The system is not going to fight for your loved one. You have to fight. Patricia is not here to fight for herself.”
Even with the updated agreement, the family feels the punishment is inadequate. Garner’s sister, Allie Mobley, pointed out, “It hurts to get the time allotted to kill her.” Nevertheless, despite the lack of an apology from Cox, the family stated they have chosen to forgive her. Welch mentioned, “I’m a Christian. But at least in your heart, say you’re sorry. She didn’t show even a trace of remorse.”
The family continues to grieve, with Mobley noting that not a day goes by without missing Garner. “We’re going to miss her,” she said. Following her release, Cox will be on probation for two years, her driver’s license will be revoked for five years, and she must complete 100 hours of community service as part of the sentence.
The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office commented that no sentence can replace the loss of a loved one, while acknowledging that the resolution is accepted by the family. Cox’s attorney, Andrew Lear, stated that this was a difficult case, emphasizing the tragic nature of the accident and expressing hope for some closure for Garner’s family.
