Stephanie Melgoza’s bizarre behavior at hospital closure by cop calling her ‘pathetic’ after killing two in DUI crash
A YOUNG woman danced, sang and asked an outraged police officer about her class the next day after killing two in a drunken accident, video footage shows.
Stephanie Melgoza, 24, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to taking part in a fatal crash in Ohio last April.
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Police rushed to the scene outside a bar in East Peoria, where they found Avon resident Paul Prowant, aged 55 and 43, with fatal injuries.
Melgoza, meanwhile, was unharmed and smiled and laughed at officers despite being briefed on the sobering circumstances, bodycam footage shows.
According to court documents, the Illinois woman was driving approximately 10 miles above the speed limit and an open bottle of vodka and cannabis were found in her vehicle.
A breathalyser test revealed that her blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit.
The former Bradley University student and the victims were taken to the hospital, where Melgoza engaged in singing and dancing before questioning an officer in the room about her classes.
She asked the officer when she could get her car back as she had classes the next day.
Melgoza also spoke about her upcoming trip to Las Vegas, where she “would start with two Long Islands,” she said in the video.
The officer told the young woman that her red Dodge Dart was totaled after killing two people and that she would be taken to jail without bail in the morning.
“I’m not going to school tomorrow, are you telling me?” she asked in a clip from Law & Crime.
The two argued about their transportation while the officer tried to emphasize the seriousness of the situation.
“Your car is owned by the East Peoria Police Department because it’s a crime scene. It killed two people tonight,” he said tersely.
“You clearly have no idea about that.”
Melgoza finally responded that she understood she had killed two people, but went on to say, “I’m just wondering when I can go to school.”
The angry officer finally cut her off and, after a moment of silence, said her behavior was “sad and pathetic” as she appeared to show no remorse.
“Can you say that as a police officer?” she asked while lying on the hospital bed.
“Yes, ma’am, I can,” he replied.
Outraged viewers slammed her apparent lack of remorse, saying they couldn’t believe she wouldn’t be spending more time behind bars.
“The fact that she only received 14 years for murdering two people is ridiculous. My heart goes out to the victims’ families,” one commented on the bodycam video.
“I lost my mother and stepfather in a similar accident, their attitude is incredible,” said another.
On April 27, Melgoza was sentenced to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated DUI and two counts of serious reckless driving.
The former student faced up to 28 years in prison for her charges.
Melgoza issued an emotional statement in court, expressing her deep regret at getting behind the wheel after drinking.
“I’m so sorry for everything, and I will never commit anything like this again,” she told the Pekin Daily Times, per Gannett affiliate.
“I have no intention of ever drinking again. I want to try to do something positive to make a difference, to speak up and to warn others about the dangers of drinking.”
In an impact statement, Rosewicz’s family countered that there was nothing more to say after the tragedy.
“There are no words that can even remotely bring you the pain and suffering … that you have caused me, our families and Andrea’s friends,” said Sherri Hutchison, Rosewicz’s sister.
“The scale is unimaginable.”
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