All but five years suspended
A local man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, with all but five suspended, for striking a pedestrian with his vehicle while legally drunk and leaving the scene in a 2022 incident on Garys Corner Road.
According to the news release from the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office, Russell Kimball, 63, of West Ocean City, pleaded guilty Feb. 28 to negligent homicide and leaving the scene of an accident involving death stemming from the Oct. 6, 2022, collision that resulted in the death of Terri Lynn Wattay
Worcester County Circuit Court Judge Beau H. Oglesby sentenced Kimball to 10 years for the negligent homicide charge, and another five consecutive five years for the charge of leaving the scene. Oglseby suspended all but five years of the sentence and placed Kimball on five years of supervised probation upon his release.
On Oct. 6, 2022, Maryland State Police troopers responded to Grays Corner Road for a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. First responders arrived to find Wattay lying unresponsive off the roadway and immediately arranged for her to be flown to the University of Maryland’s Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore due to the extent of her injuries. Wattay, a former veterinarian in the area, succumbed to her injuries while at shock trauma and was pronounced dead.
While I am glad to see justice done, but what about Gavin Knupp’s family? I know the appeal was presented on March 1, but how long can this possible take? Why hasn’t Ralph and his girlfriend charged for hiding the car? The whole situation is just bizarre and I can’t imagine how the family is dealing with all of this.
And the guy that hit Gavin is still free….Good Ole Boy network at it’s best !!!
This case is very similar in many many ways to the death of Gavin Knupp’s by vehicular homicide, that seems to be pushed aside, postponed, and any other method used that can keep this case on the back burner hoping the public forgets about it. Lets hope Mailioux gets treated “at a minimum” with the same or even more severe punishment in court than Russell Kimball. Let’s not forget his co-conspirators that helped him avoid charges by hiding evidence (the car) for days after the incident. They are guilty of being accomplices to a crime also. Folks, this was a fine, young, outstanding youth, that was on the right path in life and was denied a prosperous future by a selfish, egotistic wealthy kid, much younger than Russell Kimball. What will this kid be like when he gets older knowing he got away unpunished after taking someone life. Traffic tickets and citations will not be enough punishment for Mailloux. He needs lots of time in prison with Kimball.
9:13 – I think you are right, and I just can’t understand how charges were not brought for hiding the vehicle. I mean, what is taking so long for the appeals judge to render a decision (last I checked, that still had not occurred)? This family’s life was turned upside down, and this mess being drug out is beyond bizarre.
Ohhhh kay…..legal officials slappin high five and kudos.
Now how did you screw the pooch with Gavin? Hello??? Get back to work!
Justice for Gavin