CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte woman will spend 12 years in prison after driving drunk and killing another woman in a crash last summer.
Kelly Conkin pleaded guilty Thursday morning to second-degree murder.
Past coverage:
- Woman free on bond after deadly DUI wreck, police say
- Impaired driver accused in fatal crash has previous DWI convictions
- Driver charged with DWI after deadly southwest Charlotte crash
The prosecutor said Conkin’s blood-alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit when she caused the fatal crash last August on South Tryon Street.
Prosecutor: Conkin's BAC was .21 in wreck. Prosecutor: victim's family is devastated pic.twitter.com/Y3nMMaEtO9
— Mark Becker (@MarkBeckerWSOC9) April 20, 2017
Cecilia de Gonzalez, 79, who was in town from South America to visit family, was killed in the wreck.
“She was just love, and she was kindness, generosity,” said Pilar Gonzalez Long as she and her sisters held a picture of their mother.
Former WSOC Action 9 reporter Don Griffin spoke directly to Conkin in the courtroom. Gonzalez was his mother-in-law.
“Let's hope prison will give you time to see just how selfish and just how irresponsible you were,” Griffin said.
Conkin read a tearful apology to Gonzalez’s family.
“I hope one day you will know how truly sorry I am, and I will continue to pray for your forgiveness,” she said.
Conkin’s family attended the hearing and left without comment, but several of them spoke to her as she left in handcuffs, saying they love her.
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