BREAKING NEWS: Tulsa Woman Sentenced To 107 Years In Prison

Kims Friend wrote:

In case anyone is actually even really interested in this case anymore (altho it seems this has just become a little gathering place for most to just chat back and forth rather than discuss the case). Kim is finally on her way to prison. Her appeals are on file, but who knows where that will go. She's actually happy to be finally out of the county jail and ready now to face the hand that has been dealt to her. She's facing her punishment.

Thanks for reporting back. It is good to hear that Kim is adjusting to her reality and hope she will make the most of the time she serves in prison. I still feel haunted by sadness from this case and her situation, even if her own actions brought her to that place.

I do believe it was unfair that the media glossed over the fact that Deanna Rosser-Coatney and Ronny Coatney were over the legal limit for alcohol at the time they were heading out on the street to drive home from the bar they were visiting. Even when that information is pointed out to someone in the comments (in TW re. lawsuit filed by the Coatney's survivors against Kim and the three bars she visited that night), some people think it doesn't matter because 1) they are dead now and 2) because Kim's actions had such horrible consequences and the Coatneys' didn't (but in a way, they did contribute to events, didn't they?). The violence of the accident affects people's emotional reactions to what happened. Kim leaving the scene of the accident that night and not being honest in her statements afterwards until trial certainly helped fuel the animosity toward her.

It sounds like you have remained friends with Kim, and I'm glad to hear that. She'll appreciate having your support as she serves her time.

I hope to read more of your comments here or on other articles about this accident some day when there is more news.

Jolie

Jolie wrote:

<quoted text>
Thanks for reporting back. It is good to hear that Kim is adjusting to her reality and hope she will make the most of the time she serves in prison. I still feel haunted by sadness from this case and her situation, even if her own actions brought her to that place.
I do believe it was unfair that the media glossed over the fact that Deanna Rosser-Coatney and Ronny Coatney were over the legal limit for alcohol at the time they were heading out on the street to drive home from the bar they were visiting. Even when that information is pointed out to someone in the comments (in TW re. lawsuit filed by the Coatney's survivors against Kim and the three bars she visited that night), some people think it doesn't matter because 1) they are dead now and 2) because Kim's actions had such horrible consequences and the Coatneys' didn't (but in a way, they did contribute to events, didn't they?). The violence of the accident affects people's emotional reactions to what happened. Kim leaving the scene of the accident that night and not being honest in her statements afterwards until trial certainly helped fuel the animosity toward her.
It sounds like you have remained friends with Kim, and I'm glad to hear that. She'll appreciate having your support as she serves her time.
I hope to read more of your comments here or on other articles about this accident some day when there is more news.
Jolie

Your heart is in the right place; however, a 'blame the victim' mentality does not serve Kim well. She already exhibited callousness towards the victims and not much interest in personal responsibility for her actions. Blaming the Coatneys because they were also over the limit alcohol wise, is moot, dangerous, and enabling.

shovelhead72 wrote:

<quoted text>Your heart is in the right place; however, a 'blame the victim' mentality does not serve Kim well. She already exhibited callousness towards the victims and not much interest in personal responsibility for her actions. Blaming the Coatneys because they were also over the limit alcohol wise, is moot, dangerous, and enabling.

And you sound like a shrink....enabling... mmmmmmm I do not think so....the others being over the limit some way over the limit...had a lot to do with this accident...

shovelhead72 wrote:

<quoted text>Your heart is in the right place; however, a 'blame the victim' mentality does not serve Kim well. She already exhibited callousness towards the victims and not much interest in personal responsibility for her actions. Blaming the Coatneys because they were also over the limit alcohol wise, is moot, dangerous, and enabling.

It's the idea of pot calling the kettle black in this circumstance that doesn't seem fair in the reporting. I'm not excusing Kim Graham's behavior, not in the least. However, the media and readers' comments treat the deceased victims as though they were completely innocent in comparison with her actions. This is not true. While they did not kill anyone, the Coatneys were getting on the road on motor vehicles after having too much to drink--the same thing that Kim Graham did. She went to three bars. They stayed at one. We don't know what her blood alcohol level was because she drove away from the scene but it is likely she was over the legal limit. We know the Coatneys were. It is condemning her actions while overlooking theirs that is not fair in the reporting or assessment of the situation. Drunk driving isn't acceptable because you haven't caused an accident yet. Drunk driving is wrong because you can cause an accident at any time due to impairment. That message needs to be said over and over again. It isn't a crime only when you've killed someone. It's a crime any time.

People who support DeAnna say she slid on gravel as she left the bar's parking lot. Isn't it possible that if she hadn't been drinking, she might have been able to handle her bike better and/or avoided the gravel in the first place?

Kim Graham said that she didn't see them in the middle of the road because it was dark and swerved to miss someone else who was in the road (I think it was the bouncer with the flashlight trying to get her attention.) Kim's Friend says the streetlight at that intersection was out at the time of the accident and the bulb was only replaced days or weeks after the accident. These things may have all contributed to the accident. The primary responsibility lies with Kim Graham, but these other factors played a part in setting up the scene for tragedy, I believe.

Jolie wrote:

<quoted text>
It's the idea of pot calling the kettle black in this circumstance that doesn't seem fair

Hi Jolie, thank you for your words. Actually it was 2 people that ran into the street in front of her when she swerved and hit Deanna and the others. And yes, the street lights were out, there were actually 2 in a row right over the accident sight that were out. I personally witnessed this, and also witnessed the lights being changed exactly one week after the accident.
If people will look at this accident in the reality of it all. Instead of judging Kim only, ALL of the circumstances of that night played a part. Deanna was twice the legal limit and should have never put the keys in the motorcycle. Actually though, Deanna and Ronnie were also bar hopping that night. The were at the Town Pump earlier and actually played a game of pool with Kim, she hugged their necks as they left, and told them to have fun and be careful. They had also been to the Cimarron bar on Memorial, and the BackYard bar was their 3rd stop of the night. They were heading back to the Cimarron when Deanna wrecked her bike, IMO she wrecked her bike because she was too drunk to be driving in the 1st place.
I won't fight with the commenters on this forum, I just wanted to state a few facts that may help some understand a little more of the night's events.
Kim has filed appeal, we don't know what will come of it, or how long it will take to happen. It could be literally years. People need to realize the fact that Kim killed "friends" in this accident has killed a part of her inside as well. Kim's friends are the most important thing in her life. When the accident happened, the victims names were not known for several days. During those days of announcement of who the victims were, Kim was in suicide watch in jail, and still didn't know the victim's names. It was at least a week later before she knew who the ones killed were. She shed many tears upon learning this information.
As I said though, I will not argue with forum posters here, I'm just shedding some light on some information. Take care Jolie. I truly appreciate your opinions, and your thinking of the "whole" picture and not labeling Kim as the monster that so many have. Thank you

shovelhead72 wrote:

<quoted text>Your heart is in the right place; however, a 'blame the victim' mentality does not serve Kim well. She already exhibited callousness towards the victims and not much interest in personal responsibility for her actions. Blaming the Coatneys because they were also over the limit alcohol wise, is moot, dangerous, and enabling.

I just wonder, why are the victims not at all in fault here? They were drunk driving as well. It's not a moot point, in that had Deanna not been too drunk to be driving, she would not have been laying in the street to begin with. Your assumption of her (Graham) displaying callousness is purely speculation on your part. But the fact that Deanna, Ronnie, Casey, and Shannon all being over their limits for intoxication is a fact. Drinking impairs one's perception, period.

Jolie wrote:

<quoted text>
It's the idea of pot calling the kettle black in this circumstance that doesn't seem fair in the reporting. I'm not excusing Kim Graham's behavior, not in the least. However, the media and readers' comments treat the deceased victims as though they were completely innocent in comparison with her actions. This is not true. While they did not kill anyone, the Coatneys were getting on the road on motor vehicles after having too much to drink--the same thing that Kim Graham did. She went to three bars. They stayed at one. We don't know what her blood alcohol level was because she drove away from the scene but it is likely she was over the legal limit. We know the Coatneys were. It is condemning her actions while overlooking theirs that is not fair in the reporting or assessment of the situation. Drunk driving isn't acceptable because you haven't caused an accident yet. Drunk driving is wrong because you can cause an accident at any time due to impairment. That message needs to be said over and over again. It isn't a crime only when you've killed someone. It's a crime any time.
People who support DeAnna say she slid on gravel as she left the bar's parking lot. Isn't it possible that if she hadn't been drinking, she might have been able to handle her bike better and/or avoided the gravel in the first place?
Kim Graham said that she didn't see them in the middle of the road because it was dark and swerved to miss someone else who was in the road (I think it was the bouncer with the flashlight trying to get her attention.) Kim's Friend says the streetlight at that intersection was out at the time of the accident and the bulb was only replaced days or weeks after the accident. These things may have all contributed to the accident. The primary responsibility lies with Kim Graham, but these other factors played a part in setting up the scene for tragedy, I believe.

I like your comments. You stated that Deanna's friends say she "slid on gravel". Well, how do her friends KNOW this? This is purely speculation as well, and her friends are merely making excuses for Deanna's drunken state. Yes, the ultimate outcome is Graham's fault, but, had Deanna not been too drunk to drive, I truly believe they'd all still be alive today, and Graham would not be spending the rest of her life in prison.

YTELLU wrote:

<quoted text>
I like your comments. You stated that Deanna's friends say she "slid on gravel". Well, how do her friends KNOW this? This is purely speculation as well, and her friends are merely making excuses for Deanna's drunken state. Yes, the ultimate outcome is Graham's fault, but, had Deanna not been too drunk to drive, I truly believe they'd all still be alive today, and Graham would not be spending the rest of her life in prison.

You got that right....!!!!!

This is the REALITY of what could possibly happen when you drink and drive. From DOC, Graham's Life plan. What a shame. I hope she is given an appeal just due to the craziness of these dates. It was an accident, not like she's Jack the Ripper, or some serial killer. Even her charges indicate it was an accident by categorizing it as Manslaughter by Automobile. Look at this! She is basically supposed to rot in jail until the year 2114!!!! Think about that! Is this truly justice? I honestly think not.
Manslaughter First Degree Automobile - Cs
20Y Incarceration 11/06/2007 - 11/05/2027
Manslaughter First Degree Automobile
20Y Incarceration 11/08/2027- 11/08/2047
Manslaughter First Degree Automobile - Cs 20Y Incarceration 11/07/2047 - 11/06/2067
Manslaughter First Degree Automobile
20Y Incarceration 11/06/2067 - 11/05/2087
Manslaughter First Degree Automobile
20Y Incarceration 11/06/2087 - 11/05/2107
Leaving Scene Of Fatality Accident -
7Y Incarceration 11/04/2107 11/03/2114

YTELLU wrote:

This is the REALITY of what could possibly happen when you drink and drive. From DOC, Graham's Life plan. What a shame. I hope she is given an appeal just due to the craziness of these dates. It was an accident, not like she's Jack the Ripper, or some serial killer. Even her charges indicate it was an accident by categorizing it as Manslaughter by Automobile. Look at this! She is basically supposed to rot in jail until the year 2114!!!! Think about that! Is this truly justice? I honestly think not.
Manslaughter First Degree Automobile - Cs
20Y Incarceration 11/06/2007 - 11/05/2027
Manslaughter First Degree Automobile
20Y Incarceration 11/08/2027- 11/08/2047
Manslaughter First Degree Automobile - Cs 20Y Incarceration 11/07/2047 - 11/06/2067
Manslaughter First Degree Automobile
20Y Incarceration 11/06/2067 - 11/05/2087
Manslaughter First Degree Automobile
20Y Incarceration 11/06/2087 - 11/05/2107
Leaving Scene Of Fatality Accident -
7Y Incarceration 11/04/2107 11/03/2114

I agree with you and I hope the appeals court will look at the whole picture and not what the media and the emotional jury tried to do...