Saturday, August 18, 2012
There is anger and shock after Patrick McCormick gets one year in jail and five years probation after an August 2011 crash that killed a Creve Coeur teacher.
Patrick McCormick, 55, of Chesterfield was sentenced to one year in St. Louis County Jail Friday by Associate Circuit Court Judge Thomas Prebil. McCormick pleaded guilty to driving into Janet Esrock's car while he was drunk on August 26, 2011. Esrock was a popular teacher at Whitfield School in Creve Coeur. The one-year jail sentence was for a second-degree assault charge. Esrock's son Jonathan was also seriously injured in the accident. McCormick was also initially given five years in prison on the manslaughter charge, but the sentence was suspended and he was placed on five years probation. McCormick also must seek alcohol counseling and wear an alcohol monitoring SCRAM bracelet for one year after his release from jail. ‘I see her every …
Friday, August 17, 2012
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. 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. Stay with Patch for more reaction to the sentencing decision. Original Story A 55-year-old Chesterfield man who drove drunk into a Whitfield School teacher's car nearly a year ago, ultimately killing her…
Friday, June 22, 2012
The state recommended a seven-year prison sentence for the charges involving Janet Esrock's death. Sentencing was deferred until Aug. 17.
Patrick J. McCormick pleaded guilty Friday morning to first-degree involuntary manslaughter involving a DWI and second-degree assault. McCormick, of Chesterfield, was legally drunk when he drove his car head-on into another on Wildhorse Creek Road Aug. 26, fatally injuring Janet Esrock, a Whitfield School teacher, and seriously injuring her teenage son, Jon Esrock. Janet Esrock, of Chesterfield, died Sept. 11. About 10 of Esrock’s family and friends gathered in the courtroom to hear the plea and huddled with Key after the decision. Chuck Esrock, Janet’s husband, declined to comment to reporters after the hearing. McCormick answered questions from St. Louis County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Prebil about his understanding of what was taking …
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Janet Esrock died September 11 following the late August crash.
Ten months after police said Chesterfield resident Patrick J. McCormick drove his car head-on into another on Wildhorse Creek Road, killing the a Creve Coeur school teacher and injuring her teenage son, McCormick is expected to plead guilty Friday at 9 a.m. in St. Louis County Circuit Court. Whitfield School teacher Janet Esrock died September 11, two weeks after the August 26 crash—having never regained consciousness. Her son, Jonathan Esrock was eventually released from hospital after multiple surgeries, and extensive therapy. McCormick was charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter DWI and second-degree assault. The prosecutor in the case, St. Louis County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Alan Key, said Thursday night McCormick …
Friday, May 4, 2012
Students urged to take precaution so weekend event is memorable for the right reasons.
After graduation, Pattonville High School senior Stephanie Vonarx plans on being a lifeguard this summer before heading off to the University of Central Missouri in the fall. She may have gotten a headstart on the lifeguard thing a little early Thursday. Vonarx had a starring role in a tragedy nobody wants repeated in real life, as she played the part of a girl who died in a drunk driving accident on prom night. Pattonville annually stages a mock accident with cooperation from Maryland Heights Police, the Pattonville Fire Protection District and SSM DePaul Health Center as a way to show the very real consequences of what can happen when alcohol impairs your ability to drive. For photos from the Mock Drill, go to our Facebook page. Please …
Friday, April 13, 2012
Defendant pleaded "not guilty" earlier.
Chesterfield resident Patrick J. McCormick is nearing a court settlement over a fatal crash in which prosecutors say he was driving drunk, according to St. Louis County Court records. An April 27 settlement conference is set, nearly nine months after McCormick's car collided with the car that teacher Janet Esrock was driving, about 10 p.m. on a Friday night along Wildhorse Creek Road in Chesterfield. Esrock was a math teacher and girls hockey coach at the private Whitfield School in Creve Coeur. Esrock died two weeks later from injuries, never regaining consciousness. Her 16-year-old son Jonathan Esrock who was a passenger in the car was critically injured. Police said McCormick's vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic. McCormick had a cut …
Thursday, March 15, 2012
The Creve Coeur school named the field hockey field in honor of the teacher who died from injuries in an August car accident.
A little more than six months after her death following injuries sustained in an August car accident, Janet Esrock was once again remembered by friends and family at Whitfield School as a friend, teacher, coach and supporter. The school dedicated its field hockey field in her memory Thursday morning. The school's board of directors authorized the move in November. Interim Head of School Ruth Greathouse told the crowd gathered outside on a beautiful spring morning that the school wanted to give seniors on the field hockey team Esrock coached a chance to play on the field bearing her name. Esrock, a Ladue High School graduate who lived in Chesterfield, also coached girls basketball and soccer at the school. She died September 11, after …
Friday, February 24, 2012
The popular teacher and coach died following an August car accident.
Field hockey at Whitfield School will be played on Janet Esrock Memorial Field after a March 15 ceremony, the school announced Thursday. Esrock died following injuries she sustained in a late August car accident. Her son was also seriously injured in the crash but survived. In a statement released by the school announcing the ceremony, Interim Head of School Ruth Greathouse said, "she was concerned about every student's success both in and out of the classroom,” she said, adding “Janet’s unwavering commitment to excellence was also evident in her coaching, through which she inspired her athletes to achieve their best, to grow personally, and to have a lot of fun along the way.” Patrick McCormick, of Chesterfield, is charged with First …
Friday, January 20, 2012
Patrick McCormick faces a March 16 trial on charges connected to the August accident which later killed a Creve Coeur teacher.
A March 16 court trial was set Friday for Patrick McCormick, who is charged with DUI manslaughter and assault in the August 26 car crash on Wild Horse Creek Road that killed Whitfield School teacher Janet Esrock and seriously injured her teenage son. A motion in St. Louis County Circuit Court for a change of judges was granted to McCormick, and the case assigned to Thomas J. Prebil in Division 4. McCormick, 54, has pleaded not guilty to: McCormick's lawyer Friday would not comment on why he filed the motion to change judges. The previous assignment was Judge Maura McShane—the presiding judge of the courts. Esrock, 50, and her 16-year-old son Jonathan were nearing home on Wild Horse Creek Road on a Friday night, when McCormick's Chevy Tahoe…
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Patrick McCormick is charged with involuntary manslaughter and assault in connection with the August accident which claimed the life of a Creve Coeur teacher.
A Chesterfield man charged with first degree involuntary manslaughter and second degree assault in connection with the death of a Whitfield School teacher pleaded not guilty Wednesday in St. Louis County Circuit Court. Patrick J. McCormick, 53, was arraigned and entered the not guilty plea in a routine procedure, his attorney Scott Rosenblum said. Police said McCormick was drunk August 26 when the SUV he was driving crossed into oncoming traffic on Wild Horse Creek Road and crashed head-on into the sedan driven by Janet Esrock. Esrock's 16-year-old son was also seriously injured. Esrock, 50, died two weeks later from her injuries. McCormick is free on $100,000 bail.
Mike
3:48 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Yes, this sentence is a disgrace. I can tell you as an attorney that practices in front of Judge Prebil, this is not uncommon for him. He is very lenient in the courtroom and I've witnessed it on a number of occasions. There should be mandatory sentencing guidelines for drunk drivers that kill another human being. Horrible sentence, period. more ›