Family members of the victims killed during a 2019 crash are speaking out after the accused killer was found not guilty on all charges Friday.Abby Michaels, 25, of Xenia, faced six counts of murder and three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide in Montgomery County court this week.Judge Steven Dankof filed the six-page written not guilty verdict on Friday.Michaels was accused of intentionally driving the wrong way on I-75 on March 17, 2019, and crashing into a Mason family's car. Timmy Thompson, his wife Karen, and their 10-year-old daughter Tessa were killed. Prosecutors said it was a suicide attempt."My parents and I are devastated by the verdict. Judge Dankof's sympathy for Abby Michaels has been apparent throughout this egregiously long process, culminating in an incomprehensible outcome. Our sincere thanks to Prosecutors Ann Gramza and Bryan Moore, and to Sgt. Andy Parish for their tireless pursuit of justice for Karen, Tim and Tessa. We absolutely believe they proved her guilt on all counts, and appreciate their commitment and dedication to seeking a rightful conviction," a statement from Karen Thompson's sister Jenny read on behalf of the family.Tyler Thompson, son of Timmy Thompson, also released a statement following the verdict on Friday."First, I want to say how much I love and miss you Tessa, Dad, and Karen every single day, and there won’t be a day that goes by where that changes. I also want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me and my family throughout this entire process, it hasn’t gone unnoticed. There is nothing that could’ve happened today that would bring my family back, but I cannot help but feel that justice was not served in the Montgomery County Court through Judge Dankof's decision to let a killer walk free," Thompson said.Thompson continued, saying, "Three incredibly special people’s lives were taken away by one person’s incredibly irresponsible decision and it feels as if the person who killed such a beautiful family is facing hardly any repercussions for their actions. Thank you to the prosecutors who sought justice for my family, I will be forever grateful for the time that you spent standing up for what is right. Rest in paradise Tessa, Tim, and Karen Thompson." Michaels' husband at the time of the crash, Kyle Pastorelle, testified at the bench trial. He filed for divorce two before the collision. He said shortly before the incident, he told Michaels he didn't want to see her that night. Pastorelle said Michaels then told him she was going to drive "backwards" on the highway.Prosecutors also presented evidence showing a text message Michaels sent to Pastorelle two-and-a-half minutes before the crash that said, "Goodbye. I love you. I'm dying now."Defense attorneys argued Michaels had a seizure and wasn't in control of her car.In his decision, Judge Dankof wrote, "It is crystal clear to the Court that Kyle Pastorelle's trial testimony that Ms. Michaels told him, during their two-minute telephone conversation at 7:54 p.m. on Sunday, March 17, 2019, that she planned to kill herself that evening by driving the wrong way on I-75 is untrue and unworthy of belief."Dankof also wrote that the analysis of the "black box" in Michaels' care "for the mere five seconds before the crash in no way supports a rational inference, much less a conclusion, that Ms. Michaels was engaged in a series of controlled actions, either steering or braking, as the State argues."Dankof went on to write, "The State has failed to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, the essential element of 'knowing' regarding the Murder counts and the essential element of 'reckless' as to the Aggravated Vehicular Homicide counts."The Montgomery County Prosecutors Office released the following statement:“The investigating law enforcement agency, Moraine Police Department, and we firmly believe there was sufficient evidence to prove Abby Michael’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and as such we are shocked and disappointed with Judge Dankof’s ruling today. We will continue to fight for justice for every victim in Montgomery County. Our continued thoughts and prayers are with the Thompson family during this difficult time.”Michaels was released from the Montgomery County jail Friday afternoon.
Family members of the victims killed during a 2019 crash are speaking out after the accused killer was found not guilty on all charges Friday.
Abby Michaels, 25, of Xenia, faced six counts of murder and three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide in Montgomery County court this week.
Judge Steven Dankof filed the six-page written not guilty verdict on Friday.
Michaels was accused of intentionally driving the wrong way on I-75 on March 17, 2019, and crashing into a Mason family's car. Timmy Thompson, his wife Karen, and their 10-year-old daughter Tessa were killed. Prosecutors said it was a suicide attempt.
"My parents and I are devastated by the verdict. Judge Dankof's sympathy for Abby Michaels has been apparent throughout this egregiously long process, culminating in an incomprehensible outcome. Our sincere thanks to Prosecutors Ann Gramza and Bryan Moore, and to Sgt. Andy Parish for their tireless pursuit of justice for Karen, Tim and Tessa. We absolutely believe they proved her guilt on all counts, and appreciate their commitment and dedication to seeking a rightful conviction," a statement from Karen Thompson's sister Jenny read on behalf of the family.
Tyler Thompson, son of Timmy Thompson, also released a statement following the verdict on Friday.
"First, I want to say how much I love and miss you Tessa, Dad, and Karen every single day, and there won’t be a day that goes by where that changes. I also want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me and my family throughout this entire process, it hasn’t gone unnoticed. There is nothing that could’ve happened today that would bring my family back, but I cannot help but feel that justice was not served in the Montgomery County Court through Judge Dankof's decision to let a killer walk free," Thompson said.
Thompson continued, saying, "Three incredibly special people’s lives were taken away by one person’s incredibly irresponsible decision and it feels as if the person who killed such a beautiful family is facing hardly any repercussions for their actions. Thank you to the prosecutors who sought justice for my family, I will be forever grateful for the time that you spent standing up for what is right. Rest in paradise Tessa, Tim, and Karen Thompson."
Michaels' husband at the time of the crash, Kyle Pastorelle, testified at the bench trial. He filed for divorce two before the collision. He said shortly before the incident, he told Michaels he didn't want to see her that night. Pastorelle said Michaels then told him she was going to drive "backwards" on the highway.
Prosecutors also presented evidence showing a text message Michaels sent to Pastorelle two-and-a-half minutes before the crash that said, "Goodbye. I love you. I'm dying now."
Defense attorneys argued Michaels had a seizure and wasn't in control of her car.
In his decision, Judge Dankof wrote, "It is crystal clear to the Court that Kyle Pastorelle's trial testimony that Ms. Michaels told him, during their two-minute telephone conversation at 7:54 p.m. on Sunday, March 17, 2019, that she planned to kill herself that evening by driving the wrong way on I-75 is untrue and unworthy of belief."
Dankof also wrote that the analysis of the "black box" in Michaels' care "for the mere five seconds before the crash in no way supports a rational inference, much less a conclusion, that Ms. Michaels was engaged in a series of controlled actions, either steering or braking, as the State argues."
Dankof went on to write, "The State has failed to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, the essential element of 'knowing' regarding the Murder counts and the essential element of 'reckless' as to the Aggravated Vehicular Homicide counts."
The Montgomery County Prosecutors Office released the following statement:
“The investigating law enforcement agency, Moraine Police Department, and we firmly believe there was sufficient evidence to prove Abby Michael’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and as such we are shocked and disappointed with Judge Dankof’s ruling today. We will continue to fight for justice for every victim in Montgomery County. Our continued thoughts and prayers are with the Thompson family during this difficult time.”
Michaels was released from the Montgomery County jail Friday afternoon.
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