Sharon ?tn?ar May 15, 2013 Governor Rick Scott State of Florida The Capitol 400 S. Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 323 99-0001 Dear Governor Scott: Sunday I Spent my second Mother?s Day without my daughter Jen. Her daughter Ashley spent her second Mother?s Day without her mom, even though she is only eighteen months old. Jen was taken from us by a driver who was under the in?uence. Also taken from her mother was en?s best friend Kathleen, who was a passenger in Jen?s car. Just imagine Mother's Day for your family, if your daughter, the mother of your grandchild, had been taken from you. You would have been forced to deal not only with your grief, but that of your wife, your daughter?s husband and child, and your other daughter. Instead, you could enjoy the holiday with them all being safe and alive. On December 30, 201 1 our lives were forever changed. Jennifer Mahar Jenkins and Kathleen O?Callaghnn were on the road to Orlando to celebrate a mutual friend's birthday. As they drove through Wnuchula, a driver in a semi traveling south crossed over and hit them, killing both of them instantly. Driving behind them was Jen's husband Dan with their two month old daughter. He swerved and rolled overI with his vehicle landing upside down. He climbed out, while helped remove Ashley from her car seat. He then ran to Jon?s car to help others set it right side up to help his wife and friend, but they could not be helped. Dan and Ashley were transported to the hospitaL to be examined and wait for hours for family members to reach them. The truck driver was airlifted to a Tampa hospital, treated and released a few days later. Our nightmare had begun. Since it was a holiday weekend, there was no one for us to speak to, so we had to return home, leaving Jen and Kathleen there. It wasn?t until late Tuesday afternoon that we received word they would be released and returned to Naples the next morning. Until we received that continuation, funeral plans could not be ?nalized. The following is the sequence of pertinent conununication from HP until an arrest was made on October 18, 2012, more than ten months after the accident. On 20112012 Case on hold until the lab reports are returned - 04/27/20 I 2 Drug results are back: 2 prescription drugs (does not state if he had a prescription for them) and I completely illegal drug. Blood sample will be sent within the week to Pharmacology Department of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida to quantify these drugs. - 05/31/2012 No results back as of this morning. 0 06/20/2012 Report from Dr. Goldberger, dated 06/18, with quantitative results received. Corporal Brenner will attempt to contact the driver this weekend; ?nalize his report; and turn in to his chain of command. - 0710412012 - Has not yet contacted the driver due to other cases. - 0711312012 - Driver has not yet been contacted and no longer resides at the address FIIP has. He has been spotted in Polk County and a deputy there tried to contact him. Corporal Brunner is not going to pressure a statement from him since we do not need it at this stage in the ease. Dr. Goldb erger has continued that the level of Methamphetamine he found in the driver?s system would cause impairment. 0 08/07/2012 -- This Tra??c Homicide Investigation report has been ?nalized and will be turned in today for review. Asking for the following charges: 0 1 count of DUI Manslaughter for the death of Mrs. Jennifer Jenkins 0 1 count of DUI Manslaughter for the death of Ms. Kathleen O'Callaghan 1 count of DUI Bodily Injury to Mr. Daniel Jenkins 0 4 counts of DUI Property Damage for the damage to all three vehicles and the orange trees. We will be noti?ed what State Attorney will be in charge of the case and review the Capias request. We will be noti?ed when the warrant is issued and the driver is arrested. At that point of the judicial process, The State Attorney will be the primary contact for the trial phases of the driver. 09/20/2012 The case is still in review at the Highway Patrol Station. The supervisors are currently reviewing the case; and it is uncertain when the review and corrections will be complete. The State Attorney?s Of?ce has been advised that the on se is still in review in Bradenton. - This report is still in the review process after almost seven weeks. I contacted Captain .1 ohn Baumann, Bradenton District Commander regarding delay. - 101030012 - Report delivered to State Attorney, but accident report missing. It is to be delivered there tomorrow The truck driver was arrested October 18, 2012, which was Ashley?s 1" Birthday. He was charged with 2 counts of DUI Manslaughter, 1 count of Bodily Injury and 4 counts of DUI property damage. Bond was set at $20,000 and he was released the next day. What an insult to these two young women. I am appealing to you as my governor and as a parent. We do share some things in common. 3 daughters and 1 son 2 daughters Granddaughter born 201 I in Naples Grandson born 2011 in Naples October 18 November 17 5 lbs. 10 oz. 5 lbs. 6 oz. 1 8 inches long 1 9 inches long Resident of Naples, Berkshire Lakes Resident of Naples, Port Royal Married in 1975 (only marriage for both) Married in 1972 (only marriage for both) St. Ann Catholic Church Naples Community Church Daughter and son-in-law live in Naples Daughter and son-in-law live in Naples Wanted second child soon, fertility issues Expecting second child 2013 My daughter has missed all the milestones that Ashley has experienced in her ?rst eighteen months. She never had the joy of experiencing her ?rst Mother?s Day, after trying for years to have a child. The driver of the truck has lived his life and been ?ne. I am not aware that his CDL License was ever taken away. He, of course, waived his right for a speedy trial. We have attended two pretrial conferences. with another scheduled for June Depositions of ?rst responders were taken in April, and on May 31" Jen?s husband Dan will give his deposition We have been told a trial will not take place until the end of this year or the beginning of 2014, two years alter the accident. My hope that in writing this letter is that: - That you read the letter yourself and see on a personal level what occurs to citizens of your state. - You will review budget cuts that have reduced the number of accident investigators and prolonged the agony of families affected by these events. - Seek to have more than one expert in the state that reviews these toxicology reports. - Review standards of setting bail, more appropriate to the crime. - Centralization of criminal records; this individual was in violation of probation in another county when the accident occurred. - The discrepancy in time of when individuals are arrested alter these accidents. There is quite a disparity among counties and agencies in the state. It is my belief that FHP Master Corporal David R. Brunner performed well under such a heavy caseload and shortage of manpower. The review process in his of?ce needs to be expedited. State Attorney David A. Ward has made himself available to both families to answer any questions we may have. We have con?dence in his abilities in seeking justice. For your reference: CASE NUMBER: 25?20! 2-01? -000350-AOXX-XX AGENCY F2011-71130010 ASA: David Ward Thank you for your time and consideration. Jennifer Mahar Jenkins and Kathleen O'Callaghan deserve to receive justice from the State of Florida. Sincerely Virngr/o'J/L 27/ Sharon Mahar Mother of Jennifer Mahar Jenkins cc: Pam Bondi, Attorney General David A. Ward, State Attorney enclosures