Tucson Mom Sentenced to Three Years in Deadly DUI Wreck

By Marianne Madden

Published on December 20, 2006

At her sentencing, Kellie Mitchell vowed to spend the rest of her life warning others of the dangers of driving drunk.

Following the deadly Jan. 15 accident, Mitchell not only lost her son but her other three children, who were in the car at the time of the crash and have since been adopted.

Defense attorney Steve Sonenberg reported that Mitchell was at a party with her four children when the father of two of them insisted they leave. Mitchell and the man got into a physical altercation. He is currently serving time in a federal prison on unrelated charges.

Once in the car, Mitchell ran a stop sign and hit a pickup truck. Her son Jeremy was killed, and her other three children were hurt. The father of the children was not in the car when it crashed. Mitchell's blood alcohol level tested at 0.167 percent — twice the legal limit.

Mitchell pleaded guilty to manslaughter, aggravated assault, and aggravated driving under the influence with a minor present. Under the plea deal, she faces three to five years in prison. The judge granted her the lowest prison term allowed under law, noting Mitchell's extreme remorse for the accident and her attempts at rehabilitation.

Comment on this article →