16 years in prison for Trick-or-Treat killer
Duane Abbott admitted to smoking pot just hours before the crash
https://www.koin.com/news/16-years-in-prison-for-trick-or-treat-killer_2018020809021526/960265826
By: koinlaceyevans / Nov 20, 2015 KOIN 6 News Staff - VANCOUVER, Wash. (KOIN) --- A man who ran over two trick-or-treaters last year, killing one, was sentenced Friday to 200 months in prison. |
On October 31, 2014, 48-year-old Duane Abbott lost control of his car, jumped a curb and hit 7-year-old Cadence Boyer, her mother Annie Boyer, another woman named Chelina Alsteen and a 6-year-old girl. Cadence was killed. Alsteen was badly hurt.
"He hurt us bad, doing drugs and driving on Halloween. Not ok."
Alsteen was in a medically induced coma right after the crash. She had a collapsed lung and fractured spine. She is still going through physical therapy. She and Cadence's parents confronted Abbott in court, where he did express remorse, crying at times.
"Today was bittersweet, kind of. He said what I was hoping he would say but he still didn't look at us, didn't make eye contact," said Cadence's mother. "It's hard to judge him and know for sure what he's feeling and how remorseful he really is because sometimes you can really feel it and really see it through people and what they say and how they act and how they engage with you."
Cadence's father, Kevin Boyer, wasn't so sure.
"Seems like he was almost saying it on his own behalf to make sure that he got a lighter sentence if anything. That's how I feel."
Abbott plead guilty to vehicular homicide and got nearly the maximum sentence. Both Arnold and Alsteen think the sentence is fair but they're still not sure if Abbott realizes how much his actions changed their lives.
"I'm glad it's done. Now I have peace. Justice was done," Alsteen said.
"He hurt us bad, doing drugs and driving on Halloween. Not ok."
Alsteen was in a medically induced coma right after the crash. She had a collapsed lung and fractured spine. She is still going through physical therapy. She and Cadence's parents confronted Abbott in court, where he did express remorse, crying at times.
"Today was bittersweet, kind of. He said what I was hoping he would say but he still didn't look at us, didn't make eye contact," said Cadence's mother. "It's hard to judge him and know for sure what he's feeling and how remorseful he really is because sometimes you can really feel it and really see it through people and what they say and how they act and how they engage with you."
Cadence's father, Kevin Boyer, wasn't so sure.
"Seems like he was almost saying it on his own behalf to make sure that he got a lighter sentence if anything. That's how I feel."
Abbott plead guilty to vehicular homicide and got nearly the maximum sentence. Both Arnold and Alsteen think the sentence is fair but they're still not sure if Abbott realizes how much his actions changed their lives.
"I'm glad it's done. Now I have peace. Justice was done," Alsteen said.