Case Puts Spotlight On Drunk Driving
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
A bumper sticker mailed to the mother of two of the victims in the Brandon Robinson drunk driving accident summed up her feelings after Friday's verdicts.
Robinson faces the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence after being found guilty in the drunk driving accident June 12 that killed Aaron Hatfield, Heather Florey and Tyler Bartley and critically injured Tiffany Bartley and Monica Hatfield.
After the verdict, Tracy Trout, mother of Tiffany and Tyler Bartley, proudly displayed a bumper sticker that read: "My son was killed by a drunk driver ... I am MADD."
She said it was sent to her by the Grant County chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, an organization with which she now actively participates. Trout resides in Van Buren, Ind.
Trout said she is still angry at Robinson. "I feel empty because he's taken part of my life away I can never have back." She said she would like to ask him "Why and if the joy ride was worth it."
Trout said she is happy with parts of the jury's decision even though jurors convicted Robinson on only five of eight charges. The convictions, she said, are a "weight off our shoulders ... we've been on edge for five months."
Heather Florey's mom, Pamela Hiers, said she's glad the guilty verdicts were returned on the drinking charges because "now I can say my daughter was killed by a drunk driver." She has put together a 20-minute video on the lives of Heather and her fianc, Aaron Hatfield, and their daughter, Monica Hatfield. She plans to visit schools and talk about the affects of drinking and driving.
"I hope this sends a message to other teen-agers," Hiers said.
She said she hopes Robinson has to serve at least 15 years so he will be more mature when he gets out of prison. "It's not hitting him what he's done. It's hitting him he got caught," she said.
Nappanee attorney Charles A. Davis Jr., who represented Robinson pointed out society's double standard.
Davis said society promotes alcohol on every street courner and then wonder why such tragedies occur. He added that the ability of a minor walking into an establishment with a fake I.D. or without being carded and being allowed to purchase alcohol shouldn't happen.
"Anybody with a kid coming up to the age when alcohol or anything else can influence them should look at this."
Everyone involved seems to agree that none of the lives affected by the June 12 accident which killed Aaron Hatfield, Heather Florey and Tyler Bartley and critically injured Tiffany Bartley and Monica Hatfield will ever be the same.
"Nothing will soothe the families (of the deceased and injured) or the Robinsons," Davis said. "This has affected the entire community.
Hiers said she quit her job to care for Monica and now runs a small daycare from her home. "This is my job now," Hiers said while holding Monica, who will turn 1 on Dec. 8. "She will never hear Heather say, 'Mommy loves you,' but we can tell her ... we'll tell her everything."
Trout said drunk driving accidents are too common. "It just seems to happen too much anymore," she said. She hopes she can do something to make the legislature make drunk driving laws tougher.
Working for such a cause is helping Trout in her healing process, she said.
The Robinsons were escorted out through a different entrance of the Justice Building and weren't confronted by the media gathered in front of the justice building. [[In-content Ad]]
A bumper sticker mailed to the mother of two of the victims in the Brandon Robinson drunk driving accident summed up her feelings after Friday's verdicts.
Robinson faces the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence after being found guilty in the drunk driving accident June 12 that killed Aaron Hatfield, Heather Florey and Tyler Bartley and critically injured Tiffany Bartley and Monica Hatfield.
After the verdict, Tracy Trout, mother of Tiffany and Tyler Bartley, proudly displayed a bumper sticker that read: "My son was killed by a drunk driver ... I am MADD."
She said it was sent to her by the Grant County chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, an organization with which she now actively participates. Trout resides in Van Buren, Ind.
Trout said she is still angry at Robinson. "I feel empty because he's taken part of my life away I can never have back." She said she would like to ask him "Why and if the joy ride was worth it."
Trout said she is happy with parts of the jury's decision even though jurors convicted Robinson on only five of eight charges. The convictions, she said, are a "weight off our shoulders ... we've been on edge for five months."
Heather Florey's mom, Pamela Hiers, said she's glad the guilty verdicts were returned on the drinking charges because "now I can say my daughter was killed by a drunk driver." She has put together a 20-minute video on the lives of Heather and her fianc, Aaron Hatfield, and their daughter, Monica Hatfield. She plans to visit schools and talk about the affects of drinking and driving.
"I hope this sends a message to other teen-agers," Hiers said.
She said she hopes Robinson has to serve at least 15 years so he will be more mature when he gets out of prison. "It's not hitting him what he's done. It's hitting him he got caught," she said.
Nappanee attorney Charles A. Davis Jr., who represented Robinson pointed out society's double standard.
Davis said society promotes alcohol on every street courner and then wonder why such tragedies occur. He added that the ability of a minor walking into an establishment with a fake I.D. or without being carded and being allowed to purchase alcohol shouldn't happen.
"Anybody with a kid coming up to the age when alcohol or anything else can influence them should look at this."
Everyone involved seems to agree that none of the lives affected by the June 12 accident which killed Aaron Hatfield, Heather Florey and Tyler Bartley and critically injured Tiffany Bartley and Monica Hatfield will ever be the same.
"Nothing will soothe the families (of the deceased and injured) or the Robinsons," Davis said. "This has affected the entire community.
Hiers said she quit her job to care for Monica and now runs a small daycare from her home. "This is my job now," Hiers said while holding Monica, who will turn 1 on Dec. 8. "She will never hear Heather say, 'Mommy loves you,' but we can tell her ... we'll tell her everything."
Trout said drunk driving accidents are too common. "It just seems to happen too much anymore," she said. She hopes she can do something to make the legislature make drunk driving laws tougher.
Working for such a cause is helping Trout in her healing process, she said.
The Robinsons were escorted out through a different entrance of the Justice Building and weren't confronted by the media gathered in front of the justice building. [[In-content Ad]]