CLEARFIELD — A Patton woman found guilty of killing two Mahaffey pedestrians on her way home from heroin treatment was sentenced to a minimum 10 years, eight months to a maximum of 34 years at the state prison for women in Muncy, Lycoming County.
Bobbi Jo Morgan, 23, remained motionless in her Clearfield County Jail orange jumpsuit, staring at the courtroom floor as Judge Paul Cherry imposed his sentence.
The accident occurred in July 25, 2007, as Morgan was returning home from the Clearfield methadone clinic.
Morgan was found guilty of DUI and two counts each of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, homicide by vehicle and involuntary manslaughter at the conclusion of a June 4 jury trial.
Bertha Kitchen, 63, and her 3-year-old granddaughter, Samantha, were killed when Morgan swerved off the road and hit them as the pair were walking from the Mahaffey post office.
Tammy Jo Kitchen, the toddler’s mother, read a statement before the sentencing.
“(Morgan) took the precious lives of our daughter, mother and mother-in-law,” she said through tears as she told of having to see her little girl’s empty bedroom every day. She said she dreams about hearing her daughter call out to her.
“We hope (Morgan) will think about what she did ... and how she took our little girl away from us.”
Marcy Kitchen, Bertha’s daughter, said the last time she saw her mother and niece was when they were lying on the side of the road, being tended to by emergency responders.
“My mother can no longer call me, ask me how my day was, or invite us to dinner,” she said.
“You not only took my mother, but my best friend, too.”
Morgan’s attorney, Brian Manchester of Bellefonte, asked Cherry for a minimum sentence of six years – saying his client has become a “poster-child for anti-methadone clinics” as portrayed by the media.
“This has also been tough on (Morgan),” Manchester said. “She was a drug addict, struggling to recover from heroin addiction ... and she was getting her prescribed medication from a legal, licensed methadone clinic.
“She was trying to beat her addiction,” Manchester said. “That caused the accident that killed the Kitchens.”
Experts testified in June that the methadone, combined with prescription Valium that Morgan had been taking, rendered Morgan incapable of safe driving.
He told the courtroom that his client wished to make a statement to the Kitchen family, stating she was not an emotional person by nature, and would likely not cry or break down during her statement.
“I want to apologize to everyone for the pain and suffering I caused,” Morgan said, turning around to face the Kitchen family. “I am truly sorry for this.”
Cherry said he received and reviewed “several letters” not only from the Kitchen family, but also their friends and neighbors in Mahaffey, as well as family and friends of Morgan
“This was a very tragic, tragic event, where two innocent people lost their lives,” Cherry said before imposing his sentence.
Marcy Kitchen said afterward that, while their mother and niece will never be replaced, the family was pleased with the outcome.
Homepage
Related Photos
-
Submitted Photo
Discussion
Methadone driver sentenced in deaths of toddler, grandmother
- Tribune-Democrat News Slideshow
- Latest News
-
-
Widow of Flight 93 pilot dies
The wife of the pilot of the United Airlines flight that crashed into a Pennsylvania field after being taken over by terrorists on 9/11 has died of what her charity said was natural causes.
-
Report: Miami officer shoots, kills naked attacker
A Miami police officer on Saturday fatally shot a naked man who was chewing on the face of another man on a downtown causeway off-ramp, police and witnesses said.
-
Final PIAA track update - No gold for local athletes
Richland senior Paige Lumley broke the state triple jump record twice in the PIAA Class AA Track and Field Championships today, but it wasn't enough to earn a gold medal.
-
Widow of Flight 93 pilot dies
- Local News
-
-
Community Event is ‘fun for the kids’
The annual Johnstown Community Event held Saturday was a big hit in many ways.
-
Fielding interest: With new rec facility, leaders hope to sell old site
Borough Council leaders here find they are about to get into the real estate business, from the sellers’ end that is.
-
Richland weighs $2.1M offer for land
Richland School District officials will take time, likely a month, to weigh an Ohio developer’s Rachel Hill school land offer.
-
Officials cool on tax plan
Two state lawmakers from the area agree that a proposal to eliminate school property taxes with revenues from increases in the state personal income and state sales taxes has little chance of success anytime soon.
-
Portage store serves up a helping of history
Gone are the days when Schoenfeld’s Department Store sold ladies apparel, men’s suits and children’s shoes.
-
Community Event is ‘fun for the kids’
- Sports
-
-
Richland's Lumley settles for pair of silver medals
Paige Lumley was on an emotional roller coaster and seeing silver on Saturday at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
The Richland senior had state record jumps twice during the triple jump competition, but ended up with a silver–medal leap of 40 feet,
1¾ inches.
Defending state champion, second-seeded junior Lanae Newsome of Brookville, won with a jump of 40-3½. -
Ridge’s Dull takes second with school-record time
Matt Dull finished his athletic career with his best on Saturday at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
The Chestnut Ridge senior ran a career-best time of 38.12 to finish second in the 300 hurdles final, also setting another school record. -
Hit batsman lifts Pirates over Cubs
Matt Hague was hit by a pitch from Rafael Dolis with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates sent the Chicago Cubs to their 11th straight loss with a 3-2 victory Saturday night.
Hague took a 96 mph fastball from Dolis (2-4) in the back near the shoulder blade, scoring Jose Tabata and eliciting an incredulous look to the sky by the Cubs reliever. -
Generals return to defeat Sting
It’s been a dramatic month for the Johnstown Generals.
There were two postponed games that left the immediate and long-term future of the franchise in serious doubt just two weeks ago. -
Greater Johnstown Speedway failed to win the support of fans
Back in the late 1950’s, the area stock car racing landscape was populated by a very strong and popular three-track weekend circuit, consisting of the Windber Stadium Speedway, Jennerstown Speedway and the Ebensburg Fairgrounds Speedway.
Thus, it came as a major surprise when the announcement was made that a new track, the Greater Johnstown Speedway, would be built and begin operation in 1958.
-
Richland's Lumley settles for pair of silver medals
- Features
-
-
Community theater | Cresson Lake Playhouse was one woman's vision
Every successful venture starts with a good idea. And Eleanor Lantzy, a native of Spangler, had a doozy.
- Nonprofit counts on donations | Sources of funding are difficult to find
- Quality, sustainability board's main focuses
-
- Lifestyles
-
-
City man fixes cars by day, builds Legos by night
You might say Paul Boratko never grew up.
The 38-year-old Johnstown man works in auto body repair during the day, but at night he builds Lego cars. - Disco Queen Donna Summer endured after era faded
- Paralyzed woman uses her mind to control robot arm
-
- Multimedia
-
-
[VIDEO] Exhibitors applaud area’s ‘can-do spirit’
Although the memory of Showcase for Commerce founder and champion John Murtha permeated Wednesday’s opening reception conversation, the exposition’s growing diversity and continued success are a tribute to the community and region, leaders said.
- [VIDEO] Talented local student gets $1,000 scholarship for driving safety message
- Slithery slideshow: Windber pupils get hands-on lesson about wetlands
-
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
