The Red Bud woman who killed Abby Liefer and Hannah Porter in a January 2015 drunk driving crash received six years in prison Thursday in exchange for her guilty plea to the charge of aggravated DUI. A charge of reckless homicide was dismissed as part of the plea.

“In addition, she received credit of 364 days for pretrial jail and home confinement,” added Monroe County Circuit Judge Dennis Doyle.

Crystal Steinheimer, who was represented by public defender Arlie Traughber, was taken into the custody of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department immediately following the hearing. She will be on probation for two years following her release from prison.

Doyle heard victim impact statements read by Liefer’s father and step-mother, Dan and Terri Liefer, Mothers Against Drunk Driving representative Kristi Hosea, who spoke for Liefer’s mom, Shari Marmon; and Dawn Porter, Hannah Porter’s mom.

The crash that took Liefer and Porter’s lives occurred Jan. 10, 2015, on Route 159, between Hecker and Red Bud. A 2008 Chevrolet Aveo driven by Steinheimer, who was 20 at the time, crossed the center line shortly after 10:30 p.m., police said, colliding with a southbound 2007 Chevy Cobalt driven by Liefer, 19.

Porter, 20, a backseat passenger in Liefer’s car, and Liefer died of injuries sustained in the crash. Grace Richards, Liefer’s front seat passenger, sustained minor injuries. Steinheimer was severely injured and was airlifted to Saint Louis University Hospital, where her blood alcohol level was determined to be more than twice the legal limit, according to an Illinois State Police trooper who testified during a preliminary hearing at the time of Steinheimer’s arrest.

Upon her arrest, Steinheimer was released on a recognizance bond; she was rearrested weeks later for driving, which violated a condition of her bond, and served about four months in jail. She was released in November and has been on house arrest ever since.

During his victim impact statement, Dan Liefer recounted the moment he found out Abby had died.

“I’m the dad. I’m supposed to be strong. I’m supposed to fix this,” he said.

“I kept all of her text messages,” he said. “That’s something for me. She talks to me.”

He concluded with a message for Abby: “Please come to me in my dreams. Walk beside me every day. I love you with my whole heart.”

Terri Liefer, Abby’s step-mom, spoke Thursday of the void left in the family, especially at their frequent family meals, which she and her husband hosted for just about any occasion they could think of.

“Abby’s spot was next to me,” she said. “The family meals stopped until recently. It just didn’t seem fair to get together without Abby.”

She also had a message for a stoic Steinheimer, who listened to the Liefer and Porter families speak, arms crossed in front of her and expressing virtually no emotion.

“I don’t think six years is enough. None of us do. (You’ve) never showed any remorse, never said ‘Sorry.”

Hosea, a representative of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, read Abby’s mom, Shari Marmon’s statement.

“That night (of the crash) we were all given a life sentence of unimaginable grief,” Hosea said. “It scares me that (Steinheimer) will one day share the roadways with everyone I love,” she added.

The Liefer and Porter families are joined by friends in remembering Abby Liefer and Hannah Porter during a candlelight vigil held Wednesday night in Red Bud. (Alan Dooley photo)

Dawn Porter was the last to offer statement. In a tragic sequel, she also lost her husband and Hannah’s dad nine months after Hannah’s crash, when he was involved in a fatal motorcycle crash.

“Hannah’s two siblings must sit at a dinner table now set for three,” she said.

Porter also expressed frustration at Steinheimer’s apparent lack of remorse at sentencing. She offered no apology for her actions when the judge asked if she wished to make a statement.

“Her last posts on social media, dated June 23, were ‘#imadeitthrough, #2020 and #almost done with this chapter’,” Porter said.

According to Doyle, Steinheimer will have to serve at least 85 percent of her sentence, which is 5.1 years. But good behavior could earn her 4.5 days per month off her sentence. All told, she could be free in four years and three months.

On Wednesday night, families and friends of the Liefer and Porter families gathered for a candlelight vigil at Lincoln Park in Red Bud to remember Abby and Hannah.

For the full story, read the July 20 issue of the Republic-Times.