On November 26th, 2019, Jennifer Lynn Parnell-Holt, an innocent mother of 5, was killed due to a head on crash caused by an alleged drunk driver. The man responsible faces multiple charges, including First Degree Manslaughter (Vehicular), and was released on only a $50k bond on December 3rd. 

First offense DUI related manslaughter individuals face four years in prison at the minimum. We need this upgraded to at least Second Degree Murder. Even at a minimum of four years, it isn’t enough punishment for a conscious decision, especially given that a suspect says, “just take me in” because they KNEW what they did was wrong and was coherent enough to acknowledge it. 

Oklahoma law states that in order for a DUI suspect to get a hefty sentence, or to be considered for Second Degree murder, is multiple DUI slayings. So, in retrospect, one time killing someone while operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/illegal drugs, which is a choice the offender was coherent enough to make and knowing the possible outcomes, isn’t enough to put someone behind bars for more than a few years. This is an atrocity. 

While the family knows that nothing can bring their loved one back, a more solid and longer punishment to the man that killed her in a tragic way does enough justice. The laws of killing someone from operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated are broken.

Let’s talk about the bonds. The bonds set for this kind gross crime is absolutely jarring and offensive. $50k for taking a life, driving with no insurance, driving under the influence (which isn’t even listed as a charge and should be), driving left of center and leaving the scene of a crash. 

“If you have ever wondered what the value of a life is, well here it is... A $50,000.00 Bond; not remand, not an amount anywhere near the damage he caused, that was the value the judge placed on my friends life. I’m disgusted.”

“There is something irreparably wrong with a justice system that sets bail this low when there is a death involved. It’s disgusting.”

Our goal is to change the laws of DUI slayings and for higher bonds to be set in these circumstances. It should not take more than one life taken for someone to receive a hefty sentence for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This offense should automatically be classified as second degree murder and the bond should be at a price that isn’t easy for someone to be bailed out. 

So many other families have suffered losing their loved ones to the senseless act of DUI’s that could have been prevented. Let’s make a change. Let’s make sure justice is served for Jennifer and all the other families. 

Help us get #JusticeforJennifer