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UPDATE: McCormick Gets A Year In Jail, Probation In Fatal DWI Case

Patrick McCormick entered guilty pleas to first-degree involuntary manslaughter involving a DWI and second-degree assault in the August 2011 crash that ultimately killed Creve Coeur school teacher Janet Esrock.

11:15 a.m. Update

A St. Louis County Court judge sentenced Patrick McCormick to a year in county jail and a five year suspended term in connection with the August 2011 car accident that killed Whitfield School teacher Janet Esrock.

The sentence fell short of what prosecutors said they expected when McCormick entered a blind guilty plea in June.

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McCormick told the court "I see her every day," referring to Janet Esrock.

Esrock's supporters were angered by the decision, which also includes a period of alcohol monitoring after leaving jail.

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Stay with Patch for more reaction to the sentencing decision.

 

Original Story

A 55-year-old Chesterfield man who drove drunk into a teacher's car nearly a year ago, ultimately killing her, is due to be sentenced Friday morning in St. Louis County Court.

Patrick McCormick told the courts he was depressed, and no longer working at Saint Louis University Medical Center when he issued a blind plea June 22.

Assistant Prosecutor Alan Key told Patch at the time of the plea that the state is recommending a seven-year prison sentence in the case.

McCormick drove his car around a curve August 26, 2011 on Wildhorse Creek Road and according to police, crossed over the center line and crashed into Janet Esrock's car head-on. Esrock's son Jonathan was also in her car.

The mother and son were driving home from a Parkway North-SLUH football game. The Esrock family was there to support SLUH Offensive Lineman Alec Abeln, a next-door neighbor.

Jonathan remained hospitalized for a time later, and ultimately managed to return to school at Whitfield.

Abeln . Janet Esrock, a math teacher at Whitfield who also coached Field Hockey and Basketball there, tutored the boy in math. She encouraged Abeln to aim for a football scholarship to college.

Abeln announced in March that he had committed to play for the University of Missouri. His senior season at SLUH starts next week, hosting Parkway North.

Stay with Patch for more information following sentencing Friday morning.

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