HANCOCK COUNTY — A woman who caused a fatal crash while she was driving drunk last summer faced the families of her victims on Wednesday afternoon when she was sentenced to prison.
Leanna Murphy, 25, was sentenced late Wednesday afternoon by Judge Terry Snow in Hancock County Superior Court 1. She received 12 years on each of the three Level 4 felony counts she was facing but will serve four years in prison. After that, she will be on probation for eight years.
Murphy expressed remorse during her sentencing hearing, which also included testimony from survivors of the crash.
The family of the woman who died, Rachel Thomas, 44, of Wilkinson, testified about their loss. Her niece, Shelbie Gossett Kazen, who was driving her aunt and two others on July 4 when the crash occurred, said their lives will never be the same.
She suffered severe injuries from which she is still recovering and used a walker Wednesday in court.
The Daily Reporter will have a full report on the sentencing hearing and reaction in its Friday edition.
