On Monday, three teenage girls in New Orleans were sentenced to 20 years in prison after carjacking and killing Linda Frickey, a 73-year-old woman, last year.
News outlets in New Orleans reported that the three teenage girls were convicted of attempted manslaughter, and there was a fourth suspect who is a male and faces a second-degree murder charge and has a life sentence.
Teenage Girls Sentence to 20 Years in Prison
The four suspects proceeded to a trial on Monday, and the prosecutors said that the male suspect was behind the wheel when Frickey died. The four suspects ranged in age from 15 to 17 and were charged as adults in the murder in March 2022.
The authorities reported that Frickey died due to blunt force injuries when she was entangled in a seatbelt and the carjackers bolted away with her car. The neighbors have witnessed Frickey being dragged, and they watched helplessly. Due to the dragging, Frickey's arm was cut off.
District Attorney Jason Williams's office said the prosecutors were not yet allowed to comment until the case was over.
Suspects Show Remorse
Frickey's family commented on the statements the two defendants made during an interview with the reporters outside the courthouse. Jinny Frickey, sister of Frickey, said that when the suspects were saying they were sorry, she felt that they were really sorry.
"Because you go back, hindsight, a lot of times, you are sorry for the actions you completed. But you did it. And, unfortunately, they did it, and they have to serve the time," Jinny said.
According to ABC News, the defendant wrung her hands and stood up before Frickey's family. The teenage girl said that was not what they set out to do and cried while explaining the killing.
Furthermore, she hoped that Frickey's family could forgive them.
The statement said that they would like to call attention to the remarkable grace of Mrs. Frickey's family, responding to the statement of the three teenage defendants who accepted accountability for their roles in the carjacking and killing of Frickey.
The statement added that their hearts and unwavering support would continue with Frickey's family as they fight for justice and pursue determination to provide a solution that would honor Frickey's memory.
According to BBC News, vehicle thefts and carjackings have dramatically increased in 30 major US cities since the pandemic began. The Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) reported that motor thefts doubled in eight of the cities they have examined.
In 2019, the cases averagely increased, while in 2020, the cases escalated to 59%. Furthermore, the report said that carjackings were most likely to happen near the victim's home, and nearly 40% of carjackers own a firearm.
