Victim's family clears deal

sure they both were drinkin but it was kaylas choice to get in the car or not.i believe that kaylas family made the right desicion.i dont think that she should go to jail because it was an accident,its not like she ment to kill her best friend.the girl already has enough gilt on her shoulders.i just pray that god will be with both familys though this hard time.and that god will be with kayla too

Bennett Family Member wrote:

<quoted text>
No, Taylor was the one who decided to get behind the wheel and drive. Kayla mistake was to get in the car with her. Taylor's actions resulted in killing Kayla. Kayla's actions only resulted in her own death. She didn't kill anyone!

Does anyone know if Kayla had been driving before Taylor, or if maybe Kayla tried to drive and Taylor told her no, because she knew or thought was better off to drive? Sad situation either way, just asking. I truly hope the rumors about Taylor drinking and driving again are not true! That would be sorry for her to have been given a 2nd chance where as most people dont get a 2nd chance, and that she would use it like that. I pray the rumors are not true. and will pray for both families

I was wondering about that myself but dont ask the family they think she has been threw enough oh please

I m from Socastee wrote:

I was wondering about that myself but dont ask the family they think she has been threw enough oh please

right. and i dont mean to offend any of the family or upset them. i am just curious because the news story does say that they were aware they had both been drinking so i thougth, what the heck, ill ask. may not get a response but we'll see

Nancy Justus wrote:

I am Kayla Marie Bennett's Grandmama. She called me "Nanny". Bo is Taylor's Uncle. I am proud of his posts. Not only that, Taylor's Granddaddy and Kayla's Granddaddy were high school friends and went into the Army together a hundred years ago. Taylor's Grandmama and I have always been friends. With all of my heart I hope we still are. My Kayla was judged and found innocent by a Perfect Judge and her Lawyer was none other than Jesus. Taylor was judged by a justice system that is the best in the world but still imperfect. The night Kayla died, two miracles happened. The angels took Kayla home and the angels saved Taylor's life. Two beautiful girls could have died that night but God has a plan for Taylor. Kayla is dead, yes, but she was not kidnapped, tortured, murdered, and we are not still searching for her body. In a heart breaking way we have all been blessed.
Get involved to get the laws changed. A child is now a felon, the adult who got the alcohol for her has committed a misdemeanor. The adult should be put in jail for 10-25 years with no possibility of parole. Taylor Shelley did not kill Kayla Marie Bennett. The adult that provided the alcohol did. Kayla loved Taylor and called her "My Tay".
I don't know God's plan for Taylor's life but I do believe she will take Kayla with her in her heart on her journey through life and Kayla's memory will be a Blessing for her.

This is a beautiful post and well worth reading two or three times. I see no hate in it. I see peace and understanding where there COULD be hate but God has blanketed the family with understanding of his purpose for things like this happening. May God continue blessing both sides in this.

Survivor wrote:

17 yr olds DO NOT have drinking problems Mr. Bennet.
It was a terrible accident and nothing more.
What was your daughters BA level?
Did she have a drinking "Problem"?
Having lived through a very similar situation three years ago which took the lives of two teens I understand the emotional and mental stress you were under in the court room.
Mr. Bennet, your words indicate a deep seeded problem. I pray you seek professional help.

Let me guess..you were the one drinking when you had your accident....obviously you got off lucky too!!! I hope you rot for your comments!!!

be truthful wrote:

<quoted text>there is no way this girl is going to pass all her drug test she'll have to get her drunk on again since she only got the slap on the and she will think nothing can happen to her and she will party once again

No she wont pass them...as a parent of one of her classmates she has been seen numerous times still attending parties and drinking alcohol...as far as the Mr. Hembree recusing maybe thats because his daughter also attends these parties and didnt want that put out in the public eye as well......

Nancy Justus wrote:

I am Kayla Marie Bennett's Grandmama. She called me "Nanny". Bo is Taylor's Uncle. I am proud of his posts. Not only that, Taylor's Granddaddy and Kayla's Granddaddy were high school friends and went into the Army together a hundred years ago. Taylor's Grandmama and I have always been friends. With all of my heart I hope we still are. My Kayla was judged and found innocent by a Perfect Judge and her Lawyer was none other than Jesus. Taylor was judged by a justice system that is the best in the world but still imperfect. The night Kayla died, two miracles happened. The angels took Kayla home and the angels saved Taylor's life. Two beautiful girls could have died that night but God has a plan for Taylor. Kayla is dead, yes, but she was not kidnapped, tortured, murdered, and we are not still searching for her body. In a heart breaking way we have all been blessed.
Get involved to get the laws changed. A child is now a felon, the adult who got the alcohol for her has committed a misdemeanor. The adult should be put in jail for 10-25 years with no possibility of parole. Taylor Shelley did not kill Kayla Marie Bennett. The adult that provided the alcohol did. Kayla loved Taylor and called her "My Tay".
I don't know God's plan for Taylor's life but I do believe she will take Kayla with her in her heart on her journey through life and Kayla's memory will be a Blessing for her.

This is a wonderful statement - why can't there be more like you in this world. I sometimes get lost and run my skimmer about how terrible this world is at this precise moment and someone like you restores my faith in old values like I grew up with - God Bless You and THANK YOU !!!!!!

What a Joke wrote:

<quoted text>
No she wont pass them...as a parent of one of her classmates she has been seen numerous times still attending parties and drinking alcohol...as far as the Mr. Hembree recusing maybe thats because his daughter also attends these parties and didnt want that put out in the public eye as well......

I just cant imagine.... I dont know either of these girls. I have met Kaylas father on one occasion. But just a simple hello and introduced ourselves. nothing more. but knowing them or not, my heart aches for them. My daughter is so young still. I hate to even think of the day i have to worry about something like this. but it could happen now, while shes in the car with me by a drunk driver. you just never know.
However if it were to happen to my daughter when she is older and out with friends, i pray that i have the same compassion as the bennett family. Now each situation is different. I honestly cannot say that i would be as leaniant as they were if it were just a random drunk driver we didnt know, but if it was a life long friend, it may weigh differently on my heart. I do feel the Bennett family did what god put on there heart to do.
back to where i started with i just cant imagine.. Like i said i dont know either of these girls but i cant imagine being given a second chance and then going out drinking and driving again. I would hope she wouldnt drink either, but if she choses, we can ALL only hope she truly knows better than to get behind a wheel OR get in the car with someone else who has been drinking. Hopefully these are all rumors thats shes been drinking AND driving. If not, i sure hope the people posting these comments are the ones who were in the car with her or took pictures of her drinking and got a picture as she drove away. Then hurried and called 911 to let them know they just saw someone getting into a car to drive and they had been drinking. If you want to help, then this is what you should do when you people see this. hurry and call 911. heck call the cops before she drives away. let her see you calling them. whatever you need to do to get her out of that car. Thats how you can help. Wouldnt that be logical? And if its your kids that are seeing her, make sure they have a cell phone so they can call the cops when they see her drink and get under the wheel. if people were doing this as much as shes supposedly been seen, she would have been arrested by now right?

wondering wrote:

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And if its your kids that are seeing her, make sure they have a cell phone so they can call the cops when they see her drink and get under the wheel. if people were doing this as much as shes supposedly been seen, she would have been arrested by now right?

Thats what they have been instructed to do is to call the police when they see something like that. I also told them if they ever make the decision to drink which is one thing we as parents cant stop if we are not there, then to call me anytime and I made a sole promise to them that I would NEVER get mad at them and that I would be there with open arms to get them home. So far they have not made that decision to drink and I have not had to go get them. There are several times that I personally have called to report a possible drunk driver and have followed them for miles and the police NEVER made it to them before they made it to thier house....so all we can do is try and get these people behind bars were they belong so no one else dies in senseless tragidies like this one. What was the uncle's sentence for giving them the alchol..did he get the death penalty for MURDER?!

MB man sentenced after bikers' deaths
20-year-old gets 5 years in 2006 wreck in the Sun News.....whats the difference here???? Someone died here to....why the double standard!!!! If I killed my best friend I think I would be in jail.

What a Joke wrote:

<quoted text>
Thats what they have been instructed to do is to call the police when they see something like that. I also told them if they ever make the decision to drink which is one thing we as parents cant stop if we are not there, then to call me anytime and I made a sole promise to them that I would NEVER get mad at them and that I would be there with open arms to get them home. So far they have not made that decision to drink and I have not had to go get them. There are several times that I personally have called to report a possible drunk driver and have followed them for miles and the police NEVER made it to them before they made it to thier house....so all we can do is try and get these people behind bars were they belong so no one else dies in senseless tragidies like this one. What was the uncle's sentence for giving them the alchol..did he get the death penalty for MURDER?!

I joined finally so it shows my name. i was "wondering".
I totally agree on the calling thing. I hope my daughter is well above legal age if she ever does decide to take a drink but i would always want her to know she can call me if she were to drink.
not that i would approve, but would rather her know she can call me than take a risk like that. but thats not to say that they will always do that. my Mom and i were always open and she offered me the same thing. I did call her once but there were times i drove anyways because i was young with the "nothing will happen to me attitude". i used to ride right throught town with open alcohol in my car. i was young and stupid. Shortly after i turned 20, i dont know.. I guess i just woke up one day and realized hey what am i thinking. i could hurt/kill myself or go to jail. so i then became the dd for friends and if i wanted to go out and everyone was drinking, i stayed sober. I became very aware and very paranoid. if we did all go out and i decided to drink, i would call a friend to come get me. A few years later i got married and even then if we went out, we would take turns on who drives. i was truly blessed to have never hurt or killed anyone in all the crazy and stupid things i did as a teen. And even though i knew my mom was there for a call, or Dad, or sister, I only used the mom option once. I still am very paranoid and aware because i know what me and my friends did as teens/young adults. so when im headed home with my family in the car or just me, basically anytime i drive at night i am very alert and cautious..because there are so many people on these roads every day that are drinking or drunk, or on drugs. not just teens. they range in all age groups. I hope my daughter never makes the choices i made but you cannot 100% control what you children decide.
i have called police before too, even for someone driving wreckless, and followed them a long ways and never saw police. I also called one day. i t wasnt even lunch time yet. there was a child in the car and they were up town where the mall is. i saw the driver turn a beer to his head. i called 911! they were there within like 2 minutes. so at least i know they got that one off the road. everyone was safe including the child.

Im not sure on the uncle. I havent seen anythig else about it other than he turned himself in..

Local Deb wrote:

<quoted text>While I don't agree with what he did "IT WAS WRONG OF YOU TO CALL HIM OUT", shame on you.I can't imagine the pain and guilt he must be going through and having to live with what happened. I'm sure he was an uncle who loved his neice very much and was doing as she asked him to do out of love for her. WE all make mistakes , but can we all forgive and show sympathy towards all concerned??

Are you people kidding me? Someone is dead and you all are treating this as if someone's pet dog was ran over and killed. A mistake is putting on a blue and black sock. Giving alcohol to minors is a crime. I know that you all are related to the perpetrator and the victim somehow, but you need to step back and take away your personal feelings. Two crimes were committed that resulted in a young girls death, not three. The victim was drunk yes but the victim did not get behind the wheel of a car and drive it drunk. A car being driven by a drunk driver is the same as a gun in the hand of a robber. They are both weapons and in this case it was a deadly weapon. Bo the uncle, you may as well have placed a gun in the perpetrators hand knowing that she could pull the trigger and kill someone.

Horry Hannable wrote:

<quoted text>
This is a wonderful statement - why can't there be more like you in this world. I sometimes get lost and run my skimmer about how terrible this world is at this precise moment and someone like you restores my faith in old values like I grew up with - God Bless You and THANK YOU !!!!!!

God Bless you. You are absolutely right, Uncle Bo should be anywhere but here talking about how the victim contributed to her own sad sad death. Both families should be outraged about his actions. I pray for peace for your family as well as the family of the perpetrator. Your words reflect a spirit of wisdom and compassion.

Nancy Justus wrote:

I am Kayla Marie Bennett's Grandmama. She called me "Nanny". Bo is Taylor's Uncle. I am proud of his posts. Not only that, Taylor's Granddaddy and Kayla's Granddaddy were high school friends and went into the Army together a hundred years ago. Taylor's Grandmama and I have always been friends. With all of my heart I hope we still are. My Kayla was judged and found innocent by a Perfect Judge and her Lawyer was none other than Jesus. Taylor was judged by a justice system that is the best in the world but still imperfect. The night Kayla died, two miracles happened. The angels took Kayla home and the angels saved Taylor's life. Two beautiful girls could have died that night but God has a plan for Taylor. Kayla is dead, yes, but she was not kidnapped, tortured, murdered, and we are not still searching for her body. In a heart breaking way we have all been blessed.
Get involved to get the laws changed. A child is now a felon, the adult who got the alcohol for her has committed a misdemeanor. The adult should be put in jail for 10-25 years with no possibility of parole. Taylor Shelley did not kill Kayla Marie Bennett. The adult that provided the alcohol did. Kayla loved Taylor and called her "My Tay".
I don't know God's plan for Taylor's life but I do believe she will take Kayla with her in her heart on her journey through life and Kayla's memory will be a Blessing for her.

God Bless you. You are absolutely right, Uncle Bo should be anywhere but here talking about how the victim contributed to her own sad sad death. Both families should be outraged about his actions. I pray for peace for your family as well as the family of the perpetrator. Your words reflect a spirit of wisdom and compassion.

I responded to the wrong post

Just wondering wrote:

<quoted text>
God Bless you. You are absolutely right, Uncle Bo should be anywhere but here talking about how the victim contributed to her own sad sad death. Both families should be outraged about his actions. I pray for peace for your family as well as the family of the perpetrator. Your words reflect a spirit of wisdom and compassion.
I responded to the wrong post

havent you read the whole post? doesnt it say that "uncle Bo" on here is not the uncle that supplied the alcohol?

Marie1 wrote:

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havent you read the whole post? doesnt it say that "uncle Bo" on here is not the uncle that supplied the alcohol?

No I did not, thanks for bringing it to my attention and I apologize to Uncle Bo.

Just wondering wrote:

<quoted text>
No I did not, thanks for bringing it to my attention and I apologize to Uncle Bo.

I personally am not sure who it was there. there are several people on here making comments to Bo about him supplying it, but there is one from a family member i believe that says Bo has nothing to feel guilty about. he loved his niece and didnt supply the alcohol. i havent seen anywhere that has a name of who did. i jsut know they have said her uncle supplied the alcohol

It is very easy for everyone to sit at there computer and judge. My child was picked up by the same softball team that Taylor plays on after the accident happen to help out and has been playing with them for a year. Taylor is a good kid who made a bad choice and she has to live with that choice everyday for the rest of her life. Yes a lot of you may think that she got off easy but you don't feel her pain because you dont know her. Instead of judging Taylor or the Bennett's for accepting the plea would it not be better to be praying and lifting up both families? I admire the Bennett family that in their loss they would give Taylor the chance to make a difference, with everyones prayer maybe Taylor will be able to reach other teenagers and really be able to make a differnce.

The courts have now given Taylor her duties and she will make good on all of them. I know she can do it. Now for everyone else who likes to follow her and call people on her you are the one braking the law now its called stalking and you can end up in jail yourself. Pick up the peices and carry on with your life. We all have lossed someone we love and yes some of us have lossed someone due to teenagers acts but we carry on with our lives by honoring there memory no being known now as so fruit cake who is sick person. Let Taylor live God said she could and you have no right to go stop her. The case is over and it is done. Is this the first time something like this has ever happened NO and it will not be the last. Taylor hold your head high and do a good job honoring Kayla that is what frinds do and you are are friend of kayla's. God Bless all of you I pray your pain will ease with each passing day.