Kenielle Finch formally sentenced to life in prison!

Video of Judge laying out the sentence.

Never once showed any remorse so I hope he lives a long time in prison. See you 20 years at the parole hearing where I hope they toss your sorry ass right back in.

Maximum sentence for Kenielle Finch

Life sentence is a misnomer but hopefully in 20 years people will not forget and keep him in prison when he is up for parole.

Justice almost served

Finch guilty of murder in 2 girls' hit-and-run deaths

Kenielle Finch hung his head as a Jefferson County jury found him guilty Tuesday of wanton murder for running over two little girls in July 2008 as he was fleeing from police in south Louisville.


Family and friends of the girls —5-year-old Claudia Faye Wadlington and 4-year-old Riley Jane Lawrence — hugged and quietly sobbed at the verdict, which carries a possible life sentence with eligibility for parole in 20 years.

“It was an incredible feeling,” Riley’s mother, Sarah Lawrence, said of the verdict in an interview. “We’ve waited a very long time to hear those words.”

Hopefully tomorrow the maximum sentence even though its not nearly enough.

1 year ago today

Day of remembrance for two young girls killed in hit-and-run

Saturday will be a day of remembrance for two Louisville families whose young girls were killed in a hit-and-run crash. This comes as the family has filed a civil lawsuit against the suspect.

This civil lawsuit now includes the names of state employees. But current law says those employees aren't subject to these kinds of lawsuits. Sarah Lawrence, one victim's mother, said on Friday, "Although their lives were brief, they were very joyful children that brought each and every one of us joy and happiness."

Saturday marks one year since a vehicle struck four-year-old Riley Lawrence, five-year-old Claudia Wadlington, and Wadlington's mother as they crossed a street on the edge of the University of Louisville campus.

I thought that was a powerful picture the first time I saw it and now a year later it still is. Recently I came to learn more about it from one of the victims mothers:

The shoe picture... that was my daughter's shoe. They'd just been bought two weeks prior. They were too big, but after being in flip flops all summer she kept telling me everything she tried on was "too tight." I saw the picture the night she was killed, I don't remember if it was on the television or on the internet. The shoe was not far from the crosswalk where they were hit. Where Riley ended up is another story. I've been meaning to take/post a picture to show people just how far he threw her. 65 mph, two children and a mommy in his sight and he never slowed down, never swerved and didn't stop. Freaking animal.

Anyway, nice to meet you, and please keep blogging about the case. Anything we can do to keep people informed and keep the case in the public eye will help with our eventual goal of changing this state's messed up parole system.

Take care,
Sarah

I just cannot imagine. The families are in my thoughts today.

Broken parole system

Families in wrongful death ready to take on sovereign immunity

July 25 marks the one-year anniversary of the day two little girls were run down by a speeding car while crossing the street near the University of Louisville's Belknap Campus. Several days ago, WAVE 3 first reported the parole officer of the man driving the speeding car had been added to a wrongful death lawsuit. Friday, the girls' families explained why.

It is a difficult anniversary for the families of 4-year-old Riley Lawrence and 5-year old Claudia Wadlington. They say the decision to add the parole officer and his supervisors in the wrongful death suit comes to get some answers. The parents believe key mistakes were made that allowed a convicted felon back on the streets and despite sovereign immunity that would protect the probation officer; they are willing to take the issue as far as they can.

As the parents sat in court behind Kenielle Finch, the man prosecutors say ran down Riley and Claudia as the crossed Floyd Street near the UofL Natatorium, it became the most difficult hearing yet coming one year after the girl's deaths.

"I think today, we're more emotional than we normally would be," said Sarah Lawrence, Riley's mother. "It's never easy and it's always very difficult and unsettling to be in the presence of someone who's caused us to lose so much."

The families and their civil attorney, John DeCamillis, explained why they added Allen George, Finch's parole officer, and two of his supervisors to their wrongful death lawsuit.

"If there's any case that I have ever in my 20 years come across that should motivate someone to find out what happened, it's this case," said DeCamillis.

Despite sovereign immunity, which makes local government immune from lawsuits like this, the suit claims the parole officers had a legal duty to supervise Finch, who had a history of trafficking drugs and running from police.

"He should have not been out the streets," DeCamillis said. "He had nine subsequent arrests after being paroled the last time and there was ample opportunity to keep him behind bars."

So how many arrests do you get before your parole is revoked exactly?

California has a plan to release 27,000 inmates to ease their budget problems and I sure hope Kentucky doesn't try the same thing.

There is just no end to this tragedy

Lawrence and Waddlington families still being exploited one year after death of daughters

It is not the first time that someone has tried to profit from someone else’s tragedy, but this is beyond the pale.

Next month will mark one year since two little girls were killed by a hit and run driver as they walked to a swim lesson at the University of Louisville.

Now there is word that someone has used their social security numbers to get a tax refund.

I hope when they are caught its not some bullshit fine from the IRS but serious federal prison time.

Wheels of Justice grind slowly in Kenielle Finch case

Prosecution awaiting DNA results in Kenielle Finch case

At Monday's pre-trial conference, prosecutor Ryane Conroy said they are still awaiting results of DNA evidence taken back in August.

"Actually, I can't comment specifically on how we would use the DNA until it's filed in the discovery, but that is something as I stated on the record that it was a shirt and some swabs from the vehicle," said Conroy.

The trial is set to begin on December 1.

I know this isn't CSI but waiting since August?

The sorry sack of shit should just plead guilty and get all this over with.

In the meantime: Driver accused of killing 2 girls sued

The parents of two girls killed in a hit-and-run last summer have filed a lawsuit against the man who in jail awaiting a criminal trial in the case.

The lawsuit, filed in Jefferson Circuit Court today, is against Kenielle Finch, who is charged with driving the car that ran over 5-year-old Claudia Wadlington and her friend, 4-year-old Riley Lawrence, as they walked to a swimming lesson. The suit also names Keynisha Butler, who lent Finch the Pontiac Grand Am that struck the girls.

"These individuals have caused us to pay very dearly for their irresponsibility," said Sarah Lawrence, Riley's mother and one of the parents who brought the lawsuit.

Its not like he has anything but that is not really the point.

Bill proposed to end Kentuckys Early Release Program

Bill to end early inmate release would cost millions

As legislators scramble to plug a $456 million hole in this year's state budget, Senate Republicans are pushing a bill that would cost the Department of Corrections an additional $8.7 million through the next fiscal year.

Senate Bill 11, sponsored by Sen. Jack Westwood, R-Crescent Springs, would end the controversial early-release program that has let nearly 2,000 inmates out of prison early since May.
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House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, said in a statement that "we would probably be more receptive to Sen. Westwood's proposal if he gave us an idea of how we could make up the savings to the corrections budget."

Sen Westwood needs support for this. $8.7 million to keep criminals in prison is nothing compared to the money our state government wastes each year on pet projects.

Get the cigarette and beer tax rolling that will help with the Medicaid shortfall. Next item is getting the expanded gaming bill passed so the horse parks can compete with the Indiana and Illinois river boat casinos.

Kenielle Finch who killed 5-year-old Claudia Wadlington and 4-year-old Riley Lawrence in a hit and run this summer in Louisville befitted from this program. I blogged about that a few months ago in How could the punishment ever fit the crime? Maybe if Stumbo needs help cutting the budget to find that $8.7 million he should put this picture on his desk.