KINGMAN, Ariz. – Sadness permeated a Mohave County Law and Justice Center courtroom as family members expressed grief over the death of a Canadian citizen in an alcohol-involved, vehicle-pedestrian fatality in Lake Havasu City. The emotional hearing on Oct. 1 was for the sentencing of Acadia Frye, 19, Lake Havasu.
Frye previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter, aggravated assault and DUI-related charges for causing the death of a woman and the injury of her husband, whom her vehicle struck on Feb. 15 at 1360 Lake Havasu Avenue North. Julie Becker, 55, was killed, while her 67-year-old husband was badly hurt and hospitalized.
“She did act recklessly by ingesting both marijuana and alcohol, and causing a death,” defense attorney Brad Rideout said of his client. He called Frye a good person who made a “horrible mistake.”
“I want to tell you how deeply sorry I am,” Frye told family members, saying she wished she could take back the deadly tragedy. “There is no excuse for what I did.”
All five of Julie Becker’s children either spoke or had their letters read into the record at the sentencing proceeding. Tears were shed as they shared heartache and emptiness and challenge of life without their mother.
“I feel lost and do not know what I’m to do next,’’ one daughter said.
“We’re still young. We still need her,” another daughter said.
“Our lives are all scarred by my mother being taken from us,’’ the eldest daughter told Mohave County Superior Court Judge Derek Carlisle.
The surviving husband spoke of being out for a peaceful walk with his wife only to wake up confused in a hospital with a laundry list of injuries sustained when struck. He said they had been married for five years and that their retirement plans were shattered.
“There is an incredible amount of emotional harm suffered by the victim’s family,” Judge Carlisle said.
Carlisle imposed a 9.5-year prison term, followed by five years of probation.
