A teenager, who admitted to being guilty of vehicular homicide in the tragic death of a 24-year-old woman in Aurora, was recently slapped with two years of probation. The CBS Colorado reported on the sentencing, sparking controversy amongst the victim’s family. Kaitlyn Weaver’s loved ones criticized the plea deal, claiming that the 18th Judicial District attorney’s office had promised to pursue the maximum sentence of two years in youth corrections initially.
Unfortunately, due to Colorado laws, many details of the case remain undisclosed as the district attorney’s office is prohibited from releasing information about juvenile cases. Weaver was driving home from work in July when a 15-year-old boy, who was living in the country illegally, crashed into her at a staggering speed of 90 mph in an Aurora neighborhood. Tragically, Weaver was taken off life support two days later, leaving her family devastated.
Weaver’s family now faces almost $1 million in medical bills, with limited options since the teenager responsible for the accident did not have insurance, as reported by CBS. Assistant District Attorney Ryan Brackley expressed the office’s firm condemnation of such reckless and unlawful behavior, emphasizing the devastating and irreversible consequences it had in this case. Despite the conviction to the highest charge and the negotiated sentence, Brackley acknowledged that no legal outcome could fully compensate for the profound loss experienced by Kaitlyn’s loved ones.
The prosecutors engaged with Weaver’s family before the teenager pleaded guilty, allowing family members to share their memories of Kaitlyn at the sentencing hearing. While an attorney for Weaver’s family was unavailable for immediate comment, CBS’ coverage of the case stirred national attention and outrage, including from Aurora City Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky. Jurinsky demanded justice for Weaver and openly criticized District Attorney Amy Padden in her social media posts.
In addition to the probation sentence, the teenager was also ordered to perform community service in connection with the case. Interestingly, he is currently seeking asylum, according to CBS reports. The aftermath of this tragic incident has left a lasting impact on Weaver’s family, who must now navigate the emotional and financial repercussions of their loss. Despite the legal proceedings and sentencing, the void left by Kaitlyn’s absence remains a painful reality for those who knew and loved her.