Mother found guilty in crash that killed daughter
Monica Leigh Major was found guilty in Pittsylvania County Circuit Court on Wednesday of felonious and willful manslaughter while intoxicated in the crash that killed her daughter.
She faces up to 20 years for the June 23, 2007, accident that killed her daughter, 5-year-old Jasmine Major.
Sentencing is scheduled for 10 a.m. today in Pittsylvania County Circuit Court.
According to the Virginia State Police, the child was a passenger in a Ford Explorer being driven by Monica Leigh Major at the time of the accident. Jasmine was not wearing a seat belt.
The vehicle ran off the right side of the road, struck a guard-rail, went airborne for 200 to 300 feet before striking an embankment and overturning. Officials haven’t released the reason for the vehicle running off the side of the road.
Reader Reactions
I don’t believe there is any Mother who truly loves a child and loses them, no matter the reason, will not suffer. I also believe if this woman got drunk and deliberately put her child in a car and drove, the child not buckled in a seat, deserves to be punished, as the law dictates. I’m glad I’m not the one who dictates that law as I wouldn’t know what to do. But a person who has been trained in that capacity will know and will make the best decision he/she can. Whether we agree with it or not, it has to be respected. This innocent child did not deserve what happened to her and Mother or not, the person who was responsible for her death needs to be punished, just being sorry isn’t enough. I’m sure since she sobered up and realized what she did, she has gone through hell, but if it had been someone else she would have been screaming for their head, soooo. You have to think of the consequences of the things you do.
Momof4: “The pain of not saying goodbye to your child and knowingly you would not ever see them again is only a pain that someone that has experience can know how they fill.“
This woman caused her own pain and caused her daughter’s death. It is possible to sympathize with the woman while still feeling that she must be held accountable for her actions. Drinking and then driving was a deliberate act. To let her off with a slap on the wrist (probation) would show a disregard for the child’s life. There are enough dangers that children must face in this world. A parent’s willful, reckless endangerment should not be one of them.
There is no excuse in this world at all to justify this situation! She needs to serve the full 20 years if not more in my opinion! For all of these people that are defending her, if it had been someone in your family that she would’ve had killed it wouldn’t be okay! There are so many people in this world that can’t have children at all, and it’s such a shame that the people that are able can’t even be responsible enough to take care of them.
I’m not being judgmental here, the young lady has a serious substance abuse problem. If I had been responsible for the death of one of my kids, or anyone else’s, I believe I would be so overwhelmed with grief that life wouldn’t have any joy to it. I do not personally know Ms. Majors, but one of my kid’s does. I saw her at a social gathering after the wreck/death and she was partying it up, laughing and joking, dancing and having a high ole’ time. She was so plastered she couldn’t even stand up and had to taken out of the facility due to the disruptions she was causing. People were appalled at her behavior, and really angry. So you tell me, where’s the real tears and grief?
i would like to agree with smoke screen and say that she truly did love that little girl and to see the change to seek God in this situation is the best thing that has come out of this. in romans 8:28 all things happen for good. and i know that it is not good what happened, but to see someone turn to God and not resent Him is the good. yes she should pay if she was drinking but c’mon guys lets stop the hate comments because you’re just making yourself look bad, but i guess that since you’re using a screen name then you can hide behind it and say anything you want. I am Kenny Reynolds and I loved both of them. God bless them and have mercy. peace out.
Yes Jasmine is in a better place. But she would have definately been in a better place wih her father, stepmother and her little brother, that is where she belonged in the first place instead of going to a function where alcohol was in the picture. You do the crime, you do the time.
Not only drunk,but going at a high rate of speed with kids in the car.The excuse I was drunk and didnt know what I was doing is no defense at all.Im just glad I do not have to Judge this women.I do not have the wisdom to think about what she must be feeling.Nobody wins in a case like this.You can be outraged without being full of hateful remarks.
After reading all of this negative comments about Monica and Jasmine Majors I felt the need to comment. I am a Mother of 4 boys which are grown now. How does anyone know the truth about what all Monica has been through. If you never been in an accident or lost a child in an accident you do not know. The pain of not saying goodbye to your child and knowingly you would not ever see them again is only a pain that someone that has experience can know how they fill. I am praying to God that the Judge will have mercy on Monica and the rest of her family this morning. Nothing will bring her back. If it was not Gods Will the accident would not have happen. I have one question to all the negatism remarks. Have any of you been at fault in an accident? There is no perfect person in this world and we all have been guilty at some point in our lives. I have never been through what Monica is going through but I do feel her pain. Like I first said I have 4 sons if anyone had ever harmed a hair on their head I would pray harder for those. That part I do understand. The Golden Rule states “Do unto others have you have them do unto you” Why don’t we follow that rule, if we did the world would be a better place to live and we would not take up some much of the judicial system time. Jasmine would not want her Mother in jail and one day we will see her again. My prayers are with the family at this time and hope the Judge will show mercy on Monica at this time. We love you Monica Major and family!!
I think that almost everyone here is being judgmental and hateful. There is no reason why anyone should pass judgment on this case. The facts are the facts, a little girl was killed (and yes, she is in a better place) and one mother is having to deal with the death of her daughter in which she is responsible for. As a mother I can’t imagine the grief, I am sure jail is nothing to the suffering she is putting herself through. My prayer is that she will be sheilded from the insults and cruel intentions that some of you have and that she will learn about Jesus’ forgiveness and learn to hold his hand here on earth as her sweet little daughter holds His hand in Heaven. Why would anyone wish anything less for her?
Mary (Beth Allen) Arnold
Her blood alcohol was over the legal limit X 2, her child was not wearing a seat belt. The child is dead. To me this demonstrates willful negligence. She richly deserves whatever sentence the court imposes. Drunk driving and inexcusably poor judgment by the driver and those who were aware of her drinking before the crash are responsible. A guilty verdict demands a serious penalty.
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