Gabriella Curry and Officer Andria Heese.Photo: Boone County Circuit CourtThe Missouri police officer who killed a 4-year-old girl when she pulled her cruiser onto a sidewalk has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in connection with the child’s death.On Tuesday, Andria Heese, 29, the Columbia officer who had originally been charged withinvoluntary manslaughterin the 2019 death of Gabriella Curry,pleaded guiltyto areduced charge of careless and imprudent driving,KRCG, KOMU and ABC17 report.The state will ask for a sentence of 180 days in jail and two years' probation, Heese’s attorney Donald Weaver told KOMU.Prosecutors would not object to Heese being released from probation after one year if all terms and conditions are met, her lawyer told KOMU.She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9.Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.Heese, a five-year veteran of the department, was working the traffic detail at Battle High School on Jan. 4, 2019, the day of the tragedy.The little girl had gone to work with her mother, who was a bus driver, theColumbia Daily Tribunereports.At about 4 p.m., Gabriella was playing on the sidewalk when Heese tried to maneuver her patrol car onto the sidewalk so she could monitor the afternoon school buses near the front of the high school, theColumbia Daily Tribunereports.After she struck the child, Heese, another officer, and school personnel tried to save her, giving her immediate medical care, the Columbia Police Department said at the time.Gabriella later died at the hospital.In May 2019, the city of Columbia settled a wrongful death lawsuit with Gabriella’s parents, Aaron and Cheyenne Curry, for $3.4 million,KOMUreports. Columbia Public Schools also agreed to pay the family a $125,000 settlement,ABC17reports.Heese was placed on administrative leave in 2019, KOMO reported at the time.Heese’s attorney did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Gabriella Curry and Officer Andria Heese.Photo: Boone County Circuit Court
The Missouri police officer who killed a 4-year-old girl when she pulled her cruiser onto a sidewalk has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in connection with the child’s death.On Tuesday, Andria Heese, 29, the Columbia officer who had originally been charged withinvoluntary manslaughterin the 2019 death of Gabriella Curry,pleaded guiltyto areduced charge of careless and imprudent driving,KRCG, KOMU and ABC17 report.The state will ask for a sentence of 180 days in jail and two years' probation, Heese’s attorney Donald Weaver told KOMU.Prosecutors would not object to Heese being released from probation after one year if all terms and conditions are met, her lawyer told KOMU.She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9.Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.Heese, a five-year veteran of the department, was working the traffic detail at Battle High School on Jan. 4, 2019, the day of the tragedy.The little girl had gone to work with her mother, who was a bus driver, theColumbia Daily Tribunereports.At about 4 p.m., Gabriella was playing on the sidewalk when Heese tried to maneuver her patrol car onto the sidewalk so she could monitor the afternoon school buses near the front of the high school, theColumbia Daily Tribunereports.After she struck the child, Heese, another officer, and school personnel tried to save her, giving her immediate medical care, the Columbia Police Department said at the time.Gabriella later died at the hospital.In May 2019, the city of Columbia settled a wrongful death lawsuit with Gabriella’s parents, Aaron and Cheyenne Curry, for $3.4 million,KOMUreports. Columbia Public Schools also agreed to pay the family a $125,000 settlement,ABC17reports.Heese was placed on administrative leave in 2019, KOMO reported at the time.Heese’s attorney did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
The Missouri police officer who killed a 4-year-old girl when she pulled her cruiser onto a sidewalk has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in connection with the child’s death.
On Tuesday, Andria Heese, 29, the Columbia officer who had originally been charged withinvoluntary manslaughterin the 2019 death of Gabriella Curry,pleaded guiltyto areduced charge of careless and imprudent driving,KRCG, KOMU and ABC17 report.
The state will ask for a sentence of 180 days in jail and two years' probation, Heese’s attorney Donald Weaver told KOMU.
Prosecutors would not object to Heese being released from probation after one year if all terms and conditions are met, her lawyer told KOMU.
She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
Heese, a five-year veteran of the department, was working the traffic detail at Battle High School on Jan. 4, 2019, the day of the tragedy.
The little girl had gone to work with her mother, who was a bus driver, theColumbia Daily Tribunereports.
At about 4 p.m., Gabriella was playing on the sidewalk when Heese tried to maneuver her patrol car onto the sidewalk so she could monitor the afternoon school buses near the front of the high school, theColumbia Daily Tribunereports.
After she struck the child, Heese, another officer, and school personnel tried to save her, giving her immediate medical care, the Columbia Police Department said at the time.
Gabriella later died at the hospital.
In May 2019, the city of Columbia settled a wrongful death lawsuit with Gabriella’s parents, Aaron and Cheyenne Curry, for $3.4 million,KOMUreports. Columbia Public Schools also agreed to pay the family a $125,000 settlement,ABC17reports.
Heese was placed on administrative leave in 2019, KOMO reported at the time.
Heese’s attorney did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
source: people.com
