By Joe Johnson
An Athens woman was sentenced to prison Monday for killing a University of Georgia student and fleeing from the scene.
As part of a negotiated plea with prosecutors, 29-year-old Virkerria Lacole Steward pleaded guilty to first-degree homicide by vehicle, hit and run, driving while license suspended, and making a false report of a crime, according to her attorney, Benjamin Pearlman.
In accordance with the plea deal, Western Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Eric Norris sentenced the woman to 17 years with the first seven years to be served in prison and the balance on probation, her attorney said.
Athens-Clarke County police said the incident happened early the morning of March 21, 2021, when Steward’s car struck and killed 21-year-old Knox Whiten, a UGA student from Toccoa, who was walking in a travel lane of the Athens perimeter, with his back against traffic in the early morning hours of March 21, when he was fatally struck from behind by a Chevrolet Cruze driven by 28-year-old Virkerria Lacole Steward, who fled the scene, according to Athens-Clarke County police.
A week after the fatal hit and run, Stewart and her mother, 59-year-old Sophia Harris Steward were each charged with false report of a crime, for reporting that the Chevrolet Cruz that struck Whiten had been stolen had actually been torched in Jackson County, in what police said was an attempt to destroy evidence.
Assisting in the cover-up was Sophia Steward’s husband, 49-year-old Roderick Dejuan Marble, according to police.
Sophia Harris was charged with false report of a crime and tampering with evidence; she and her husband were each charged with arson in Jackson County. The status of those cases were not immediately available.
123123
To the Whiten family; I felt compelled to send a note because I too know of the loss of a UGA student, my son, Benjamin Lloyd Cloer. I feel deeply for you because I know the depths of sorrow only those who lose a child know. You are not alone in this kind of struggle. Even though we do not know each other, we are bonded by this kind of tragedy. I wanted to send my heartfelt sympathy and let you know that you are in my thoughts and my prayers. May you all have the strength to bare the impossible burden you are enduring and the grey future you see now may someday have some brightness to it.
Steve…
If she had just stopped she probably would not be going to prison even if she was DUI... The idiot was walking in a travel lane on a highway. Even if you are sober it would be hard to see him in time and avoid hitting him while moving 70-75 MPH at night.