Drunk Driver Who Killed Bride on Her Wedding Day Now Begs for Shorter Jail Time—Claims Sentence ‘Unfair’
( Image: WCSC)
Jamie Lee Komoroski, 26, who pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to a fatal DUI crash that killed a newlywed bride, is now arguing her punishment is unfair and excessive. On December 2, Komoroski admitted to two counts of felony DUI resulting in great bodily injury, one count of felony DUI resulting in death, and one count of reckless homicide.
The tragic crash claimed the life of 34-year-old Samantha Miller just hours after her wedding reception. Komoroski struck the back of the golf cart carrying Miller and her husband, Aric Hutchinson, as they left the celebration in Folly Beach, South Carolina.
The impact left Hutchinson, his brother-in-law, and his nephew injured while Miller lost her life. Despite pleading guilty, Komoroski’s legal team has now asked the court to reduce her sentence. She currently faces 15 years for each DUI resulting in injury, 25 years for the DUI resulting in death, and 10 years for reckless homicide, told Law and Crime.
In their motion, her lawyers argued that her sentence was “unwarranted and grossly disproportionate” compared to similar cases in the region. “Unlike Ms. Komoroski, all similarly charged defendants received some type of sentence credit for pleading guilty, saving the State and victim’s family members from the emotional difficulty and trauma of a contested jury trial,” her attorneys wrote.
They claimed the high-profile nature of the case unfairly influenced the sentence, stating, “These other cases likely did not garner the same degree of media attention; however, the significant media interest cannot serve as an aggravating factor justifying a longer sentence.”
Komoroski’s lawyers highlighted her clean record before the crash, arguing her lack of prior DUIs or violent criminal history should be taken into account. They noted that sentences for comparable DUI cases typically ranged from nine to 18 years in South Carolina and nearby areas.
Authorities, however, painted a grim picture of the crash. Police reported that Komoroski was driving 65 mph in a 25 mph residential zone and was highly intoxicated. Although she initially refused a field sobriety test and claimed she had only “two drinks,” a blood test later revealed a blood alcohol content of .261—more than three times the legal limit.
Witnesses at the scene said Komoroski insisted she “did nothing wrong” following the crash, but the devastating loss of Samantha Miller and the injuries inflicted on her loved ones tell a different story. Komoroski’s plea for a lighter sentence now rests with the court, as the victims’ families await justice.
