A drunk driver who killed a mother and her son blamed them for the crash in newly obtained and shared audio as the double killer pleads for parole.
Kesley Pope, 24, is pleading for her release just three years after she ran over Season Dow, 43, and Dow’s 16-year-old son, Toby, in Orem, Utah, on Halloween 2021.
But earlier this week, it was revealed that she had agreed with her father that the Dows were partly to blame for their own deaths by running out of gas on Interstate 15 on the night of their deaths. Season and Toby had driven off the road and stood on the shoulder of the highway when they were hit.
Seventeen days after the crash, Pope’s father, Jefferson, was heard blaming the deceased while on the phone with his daughter: “They already have some blame, because they ran out of gas on the highway, that’s against the law.” Kesley replied: “Yes,” according to KUTV.
Kesley Pope, 24, was convicted and sent to prison for killing Season Dow, 43, and her son Toby, 16, in a fatal crash while driving her father’s pickup truck while intoxicated on Halloween 2021.
Jefferson Pope can be heard blaming the deceased while on the phone with his daughter: “They already have some problems because they ran out of gas on the highway, that’s against the law,” to which Kesley agreed.
The fatal crash occurred on Interstate 15 in Utah County as Season and Toby were heading home after attending a concert in Salt Lake City.
Kelsey struck a markedly more contrite tone during her hearing earlier this week.
“I can’t even put myself in his family’s shoes, I’ve tried so many times it’s impossible, it’s impossible,” she said.
“And my heart aches for you and your family so much. My selfish decision destroyed your innocent family and I wish I could take it back every day.”
He was denied a request to turn around and face Dows while he spoke.
The newly discovered victim-blaming call also reveals the drunk driver’s “relief” as the fatal crash was her first offense.
“I’m so glad this is my first offense,” she told her father.
He replied, “Oh yeah, you’re very lucky, I mean it’s life-changing.”
Kesley replied that she was only 22, to which her father replied, “It’s your first offense, they’re always nice to first-timers.”
The deceased’s husband and father, Christian Dow, spoke at the hearing and shared that he felt she was not at all remorseful or taking responsibility for her heinous misdeed.
“It doesn’t seem like the Pope family has taken any responsibility for this matter. They blamed my family for this accident, said it was their fault and took no responsibility.”
The 16-year-old was driving when he ran out of petrol before Kesley, who was twice the legal limit, crashed into his car, which was off the road and on the side of the motorway.
The impact caused the car to spin onto the highway and immediately killed Season, while Toby was airlifted to a hospital where he later died.
In prison, Kesley has displayed several acts of disobedient behavior and has been “written up” enough times to fill an entire page, one of the five members of the parole board, Blake Hills, said at the hearing.
Kesley was charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and second-degree felonies after the incident.
He added that Kesley “was intoxicated and driving an uninsured vehicle.”
Dow explained how he feels “Kesley should stay in prison for ten years and take responsibility” while his family is “trying to rebuild things as best we can.”
The fatal crash occurred on Interstate 15 in Utah County as Season and Toby were heading home after attending a concert in Salt Lake City.
The 16-year-old was driving when they ran out of petrol before Kesley, who was twice the legal limit, crashed into his car.
The impact sent the car spinning onto the highway, immediately killing Season while Toby was airlifted to a hospital where he remained on life support before succumbing to his injuries.
Kesley was charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and second-degree felonies after the incident.
In prison, Kesley has displayed several acts of disobedient behavior and has been “written up” enough times to fill an entire page, one of the five members of the parole board, Blake Hills, said at the hearing.
Hills said it would likely take a month before a decision is made.
The five members of the parole board will decide when the killer will be granted parole.
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