Last June, I wrote about a tragic accident in Baytown, TX, where a bunch of kids were joyriding in a stolen vehicle that crashed into a parked train. Four teenagers were killed in that wreck.
As I wrote then (and subsequently was criticized for being “uncaring” and “heartless”):
The parents are understandably upset and shaken. But their anger is misdirected. The fault of this accident lies 100% with their children. Instead they are blaming — the railroad company.
[snip]
Come on people — why is it so damn hard for people to accept responsibility and blame for bad things that happen?
I’m sorry that your kids are dead. But it’s not the trains fault, or the engineers fault, or the railroads fault that your kid drove a speeding and stolen SUV full of other curfew breaking kids into a parked train. It’s his [Bobby Davis] fault. And his fault alone.
In an update to that tragic story, the driver of the stolen Jeep Cherokee has been charged with felony murder in the deaths of his four friends.
[Editor's aside: is there really a misdemeanor murder charge?]
Investigators said [Bobby] Davis stole the Jeep Cherokee and was joyriding with five other youths when the accident occurred about 4 a.m. June 14.Killed were Davis’ 14-year-old brother, Austin, and three girls — Loral Moyers, 12; her cousin, Macy Moyers, 14; and Colette Windham, 14. The teens had sneaked out of their families’ homes, investigators said.
[snip]
Coleman said several factors went into the decision to charge Davis with four counts of felony murder. “This kid killed four other kids in one act, which occurred after he had stolen two cars that night,” he said. “He actually stole one and it broke down and then he went down the street and stole another.”
Coleman said he hopes the seriousness of the charges sends a message. “Maybe kids will see we actually take this seriously and if they decide to make this type of mistake they have to be ready to answer for it,” he said.
This is a horrible tragedy for everybody. Even for the 15-year old Davis.
But prosecuting Davis to the full extent of the law is the right thing to do. He killed four other kids. It was his fault. And he should be held fully responsible and accountable:
If Davis is convicted as a juvenile, he could receive 40 years in jail for each death, said Robert Pelton, a longtime Houston criminal defense attorney. The boy could start his sentence in the juvenile system and be transferred to prison when he turns 21.
Editor’s aside: is there really a misdemeanor murder charge?
Misdemeanor manslaughter.
Left by kma on August 10th, 2007 at 9:44 am