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Dear Editor:

“He’s gone.” Those were the words whispered to me by my sister, Kathy, as she sobbed over the telephone on the worst day of our lives. The day was Aug. 9, 2006.
A couple of hours earlier, she had reminded her husband to be careful on his daily bicycle ride. Within the hour, she would be at my house, telling my three young nieces that their father would never be coming home.

My brother-in-law, Jeff Roth, was a loving husband doting father, steadfast Christian, caring physical therapist, and loyal friend. Since his death, there has been a giant hole in our family.

June 30, 2008, was sentencing day for Jeff’s killer. An agreement had already been reached: Mr. Carroll would plead guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide and serve eight years. My sister agreed, with the following stipulations: he would never again be allowed to own a car nor drive for the rest of his life. Those two conditions were very important to her, since Mr. Carroll was somehow able to obtain a driving license after being diagnosed with a seizure disorder, against the advice of his doctor.
According to his testimony, he still does not seem to understand that taking rather large quantities of narcotic pain medicine and muscle relaxants might impair his driving. Judge Meares was to determine how he spent the next eight years. Mr. Carroll’s attorneys argued for probation, while we asked that he serve the full sentence in prison. At the end of the day, Judge Meares chose to protect the public, sentencing him to prison.

Judge Meares was fair and did the right thing. I am glad that he agreed with our side, but I am even more grateful that he listened to both sides and seemed to truly consider everything before making his decision. I got the impression that he did not have his mind made up until the end of the hearing.

I have heard many positive things about Judge Duggan. Recently, I found out that if Judge Duggan wins the election, Judge Meares will be out, and Mayor Cunningham will hand-pick Judge Duggan’s replacement. However, if Judge Meares wins, they will both remain in their current positions. If Judge Duggan is even close to being as professional and worthy as Judge Meares, then “the system ain’t broke,” and they should both remain judges. Why would we want to change that?

Finally, I would like to thank William Pritchett for heroically putting himself in harm’s way as he prevented Mr. Carroll from continuing down West Lamar Alexander Parkway after he killed Jeff and sideswiped a car.

I would also like to express my gratitude to Maryville Police Sergeant Michael Braden for his thoroughness, Assistant District Attorney Tammy Harrison for keeping our family informed and considering our wishes, The Daily Times writer Jessica Stith for her accuracy, the cycling community for supporting my sister and nieces, the Fort Craig, Maryville High, and Heritage High school communities for providing strength to my daughters and myself, and Judge Meares for his respect and fairness.

Krista Thompson
1910 E. Broadway Ave
Maryville, TN 37804