Grandmother proposes law to make drunk drivers pay child support if parent dies

A Missouri grandmother is proposing a law named after her 5-year-old grandson in honor of the fact that her son, fiancé and 4-month-old son were killed by a drunk driver. Now raising the couple’s two surviving children, the grandmother is proposing a law to make drunk drivers pay child support if the father is killed.

Grandmother proposes law to make drunk drivers pay child support if parent dies

A Missouri grandmother is proposing a law named after her 5-year-old grandson in honor of the fact that her son, fiancé and 4-month-old son were killed by a drunk driver.

She is now raising the couple’s two surviving children, and believes that if a law requires drunk drivers who cause the death of at least one parent to pay child support, it might make them think twice before getting behind the wheel.

In April 2021, Lacey Newton, 25, Cordell Williams, 30, and their 4-month-old son, also named Cordell, were hit by a drunk driver in Jefferson County.

According to KMOV, David Thurby, was charged with three counts of DWI, death of another, drug possession, careless and reckless driving and driving without insurance.

The couple, who had been together for seven years, left behind two children, a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old. Cordell’s mother, Cecilia Williams, is currently raising the children.

Financial Responsibility

Cecilia is currently lobbying lawmakers to support a bill called Bentley’s Law that would require drunk drivers to pay child support until the child turns 18.

“They deserve to get that compensation because you’re talking about raising children that their parents are no longer here,” he said according to Fox Carolina.

Missouri state Rep. Mike Henderson plans to introduce the bill during the next legislative session. He agrees that children who lose a parent as a result of a drunk driving incident should receive help.