BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The woman charged with hitting and killing an Indiana University student in 2022 was sentenced to 12 years during a hearing on Monday.
Monroe County Judge Darcie Fawcett sentenced Madelyn Howard after she took a plea deal in the case earlier this year. Howard will serve 10 years of her sentence with the Department of Correction and two years of probation.
Howard pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident and causing death when operating a vehicle while intoxicated. As part of the agreement, the state dismissed the other charges, including reckless homicide.
Howard was convicted of hitting 20-year-old Nathaniel Stratton, who was riding an electric scooter near North Walnut and East 12th streets in Bloomington on Sept. 18, 2022. He later died from his injuries at the hospital.
Police said the suspect vehicle, a black 2012 Mercedes-Benz with damage to the windshield, and a badly damaged electric scooter were found about a half-mile from the crash scene.
Howard, 22 at the time, failed dexterity tests at the scene and was taken into custody. Toxicology results came back showing Howard had a 0.22 blood alcohol level.
RELATED: 'He’s the greatest kid ever, and he’s gone' | Family of IU student killed in crash share heartbreak
Security camera footage from a business near where the crash happened showed the car’s passenger-side tires on the sidewalk east of Walnut Street. Police said the car appeared to be going fast, and a person on the sidewalk was seen jumping into the grass to avoid being hit by the car just before the car hit Nate on the electric scooter.
On Monday, the sentencing hearing lasted all day, with nearly seven hours of testimony and five victim impact statements. Almost every seat in the courtroom was filled, with the Stratton and Howard families separated.
"I'm still in shock honestly, I did not have much faith in the legal system," Ceci Stratton, Nate's sister, said. "Based on everything we've dealt with, all the delays form her side of the aisle, it's just continued, continued and continued, and at this point, it felt there was never going to be an end."
Howard’s car was also placed outside the courthouse, which was a decision made by the state. However, it was not referred to during the hearing.
"It sends a message. I mean, my son's hair is in the top of that car," Brad Stratton, Nate's father, said.
Defense attorney Katherine Liell called serval witnesses, including Howard’s priest, a high school teacher and coach, a college friend and a sister-in-law. All of them described Howard’s remorse, her strong faith and her good character.
Dr. Polly Westcott was also called by the defense. The neuropsychologist shared her findings regarding Howard’s awareness of hitting someone with her car and why she doesn’t remember. It was determined that Howard did not understand that she hit someone because she was intoxicated.
The state then called three witnesses, including two Bloomington Police detectives who described the scene.
The judge also heard from Nate's mother, father, two older sisters and best friend who shared how their lives are forever changed and are living with “a life sentence of grief.”
"I'm so proud of the Stratton family because we did our job to represent Nate and his legacy. He would be proud," Brad said.
Nate was supposed to graduate from IU on Saturday. Several of his friends were also in the courtroom in support.
At the end of the hearing, Howard read a long statement that included an apology to the Stratton family, saying there isn’t a day that goes by that she doesn’t think about Nate.
After the sentencing, 13News spoke with the Stratton family.
“There’s no win here for any of us. Nate’s dead. He doesn’t come back. We get a life sentence of grief, so there is no winning in this situation,” Brad said. “We worked hard at this because we don’t want any family to ever endure the pain that we have endured for this 20 months and that we will have to endure the rest of our lives.”
A civil lawsuit filed against Howard by Nate's parents is still pending. Kilroy’s Sports Bar was later added to the suit. Nate's family claims bar staff continued to serve Howard, who was allegedly visibly intoxicated before the deadly crash.