A Sumter County woman was sentenced to almost 30 years in prison for a DUI manslaughter case from 2020.
Jasmine Daebreon Grover, 25, was sentenced Thursday by Judge Mary Hatcher to 29.5 years in the Florida Department of Corrections, followed by one year of probation for her DUI manslaughter case.
Earlier this year, a jury found Grover guilty of DUI manslaughter following a fatal vehicle incident that took the life of 21-year-old Alexes Olivia Matthews. Grover was also convicted of DUI with serious bodily injury, DUI causing injury, DUI with property damage and possession of cannabis.
Back on Feb. 9, 2020, Grover, who was 19 years old at the time, was driving a 2013 Chevrolet Cruz with three other passengers, including the victim. Grover was under the influence at the time and lost control of the vehicle while driving on County Road 476 in Sumter County. She veered off the road and onto the shoulder.
To regain control, Grover overcorrected, causing the vehicle to cross back over the road to the opposite shoulder. Ultimately, the vehicle left the roadway completely and crashed into a tree. The impact of the crash not only ejected the victim, who had not been wearing a seatbelt, but also caused the vehicle to roll on top of her, resulting in her death.
Florida Highway Patrol conducted a thorough traffic homicide investigation, revealing that Grover was the individual behind the wheel at the time of the crash, according to the two surviving occupants. Additionally, first responders on scene indicated that she had bloodshot watery eyes, dilated pupils, slurred speech and a very thick tongue – all consistent indicators she was under the influence. A substantial amount of cannabis was recovered from Grover’s waistband at the time of the accident.
A blood draw conducted on Grover revealed large quantities of both cannabis and etizolam, a controlled substance, in her system at the time of the deadly crash. This evidence, along with testimony from witnesses, members of the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Medical Examiner’s Office, and other fellow medical professionals, were presented during the trial.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Joseph Church and Sonny McCathran.