Bennett gets 15 years for vehicular homicide

It is 4:30 AM EST on September 2nd. One day after our daughter Cristina would have celebrated her 19th birthday.
Unless you have lost a child to a senseless tragedy, noone can understand the hole you have in your heart forever. As the family of the victim, we were instrumental in the John Bennett's plea agreement. Four feet to the left and his parents would have been planning a funeral and not us. But he has been given a second chance at life and our family hope he makes the best of it.
There is a trailer close to town where kids are using as a party/flop house. I think more attention should be paid by the local police
as to the activities and coming and goings and most importantly to the property owner. He has a responsibility to his community.
After Cristina passed, a friend and I came out again to visit in October 2007. I never took the opportunity to thank the police, ambulance crew and anyone else who assisted at the scene of that horrific day.
A special heartfelt thanks to Butch and Lynn Verlanic who cared for her deeply. And for Sue Cooperman who was so patient in my grieving and sincerly did the best for our Cristina.
There is a small memorial we planted last October near the sight of the accident. Please remember her. No parent wants their child to be forgotten. I know she left her mark on several friends, please keep her memory alive in your hearts.
Lesley Gomez
Mother of Cristina Gomez

Im a friend of both JT and Christina. It was a sensles tragity, what happend to her. Jt and Jessica did survive. I was crushed when christina died. But all of the blame was not quarly on Jt. Christina and Jessica both were under the influence at the time. JT was, addmitidly, traviling to fast and not in a state to drive. But i beg you not to purley beg him. We all loved christina. Everytime i go by her memorial i bereak down. I have to stop. Ive sat at theat tree so many times and just cried. We all loved her...Including JT.

Lesley,
Thank you for your kind words! I was one of the first ambulance attendants on scene at that horrific car accident. Not the type of accident that we are used to seeing in town. I am so terribly sorry for your loss, our thoughts were with you then and are with you now.
The accident affected many of us deeply, it could of been the child of any one of us.