My cousin Samantha was a beautiful, smart and talented 19 year old who had her whole life ahead of her. Her life was tragically ended in the early morning hours of May 18, 2002. Her precious life was cut short by a senseless act, an act that could have very well been prevented over and over again. She was killed by a drunk driver.

Sam was the passenger in a car with a guy she had been seeing off and on for about 2 years. They had hung out the night of May 17 with friends and left the group together in his car around 3:15 am the morning of May 18. The driver had been drinking all night and also doing drugs and popping pills. They were clocked on the interstate at 114 mph, but the driver did not stop for the police. He kept going, making the officer give chase. The officer followed them off of the interstate and onto a road not far from Sam�s house. Traveling at such high speeds combined with alcohol ended up in the car being flipped into a field off of the road. Sam was thrown from the vehicle. The driver climbed from the vehicle and ran from the scene. Before the officer could follow him, he came across Sam�s body. He had to stop and call for back-up. The police found the driver 30 minutes later. He was hiding in the woods. He did not know whether Sam had made it or not, but still he left her. When he later found out she had died, he told the police that she had been the driver of the car.

It took time, but 3 months later the driver was indicted on 7 charges, including felony hit and run, eluding the police and involuntary manslaughter. He still kept to his story though, that Sam had been the driver. Through DNA tests and statements that he had made at the crash scene, it was PROVEN that he was indeed the driver. Trial was December 11, 2002 and he was only sentenced to 5 years and 2 months.

The days and weeks following the crash were like a terrible nightmare. Whatever faith I did have in our so-called justice system has been long gone. To me, killing someone while you are under the influence is the same is if he had pulled out a gun and shot her. It does not make sense to me why over and over again a repeat offender walks away. A person who can drink, drive at speeds of 114 mph, elude the police, wreck a car, run from the scene, lie and kill a person should have to serve more than 5 years 2 months. Where is the justice in this? The killer had more support from this sorry-a** justice system than my family did. Why???

In Memory of Samantha Annette Moore �Sam�
Remembrance is a golden chain,
Death tries to break, but all in vain.
To have, to love, and then to part,
Is the greatest sorrow of one�s heart.
The years may wipe out many things,
But some they wipe out never.
Like memories of those happy times,
When we were all together. I love you Sam � always and forever