Stephanie Melgoza Murder: Suspect Update 2023 Charged With 14 Years In Prison

May 2024 · 3 minute read

Stephanie Melgoza Murder: A woman pleads guilty to aggravated DUI and reckless driving after a fatal collision resulting in two pedestrians’ deaths in East Peoria. She faces up many years behind bars when sentenced.

Stephanie Melgoza pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated DUI death and two counts of aggravated reckless driving, with four other charges dropped in exchange for the guilty plea.

The victims of her crimes were Andrea Rosewicz and Paul Prowant.

During her hearing, family members of the victims were present, including Andrea’s cousin Lisa, who read a victim impact statement directed towards Melgoza.

Lisa tearfully addressed Melgoza, stating that while everyone makes mistakes, not to this degree.

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Stephanie Melgoza Murder: What Happened?

Stephanie Melgoza, a Bradley University graduate, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated DUI and two counts of aggravated reckless driving after striking and killing two pedestrians with her car in East Peoria, Illinois.

Melgoza was intoxicated at the time of the accident and was driving above the speed limit when she hit Andrea Rosewicz and Paul Prowant, who died at the scene.

An officer found Melgoza with slurred speech, red, watery eyes, and a strong odor of alcohol.

She failed a field sobriety test and admitted to driving above the speed limit, hitting someone, and possessing cannabis, a hitter pipe, and an open bottle of vodka in the car.

Melgoza faces at least six years and up to 28 years behind bars, with a possibility of probation if she demonstrates extraordinary circumstances. Melgoza’s sentencing is on April 27, and she remains bond-free.

Stephanie Melgoza Suspect Charged With 14 Years In Prison

Stephanie Melgoza, a  woman from Farmington, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol and aggravated reckless driving in February.

She has been convicted of causing the DUI-related deaths of Paul Prowant and Andrea Rosewicz on April 10, 2022, on North Main Street in East Peoria.

Melgoza must serve at least 85% of her sentence, which she started to serve on Thursday, April 27, 2023.

During the hearing, the court heard that Melgoza was driving while intoxicated when her vehicle struck and killed Prowant and Rosewicz outside the Throttle Bar and Grill.

Melgoza was found to have slurred speech, watery eyes, and a strong alcohol odor on her breath.

At the hearing, family members of the victims delivered emotional statements while Melgoza tearfully apologized for her actions.

Her defense attorney requested a lighter sentence, but the judge stated that the sentence was just and asked people to remember the victims’ names.

Who Is Stephanie Melgoza? Wiki

Stephanie Melgoza, a 24-year-old Illinois woman, pleaded guilty to aggravated DUI and aggravated reckless driving after hitting and killing Andrea Rosewicz and Paul Prowant with her car in a drunk driving accident in April 2022.

Melgoza was a senior at Bradley University at the time of the crash.

She admitted having several vodka drinks and remained at the accident scene with her damaged car.

The victims’ families asked the judge to impose the maximum sentence on Melgoza.

Melgoza apologized in court and expressed remorse for her actions, stating that she had not drunk since that day and did not plan on drinking ever again.

The incident caused outrage among the Bradley University community, with students organizing a vigil to honor the victims and protesting Melgoza’s inclusion in the graduation ceremony.

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