Amber Peery, a 35-year-old mother from Topeka, has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter following a tragic accident that resulted in the deaths of her daughter and two other young Girl Scouts. On December 3, 2024, Peery was sentenced to 64 months in state prison for her role in a horrific crash that occurred on October 8, 2022, on the Kansas Turnpike. The sentence came after her convictions on three counts of involuntary manslaughter, five additional felonies, and two traffic infractions. District Judge Jessica Heinen’s decision to impose a prison sentence rather than probation reflected the seriousness of the incident, despite the guidelines that allowed for either outcome.
The crash unfolded when Peery, driving a minivan loaded with children en route to a Girl Scouts event, mistakenly took an incorrect off-ramp. In a bid to rectify her mistake, she attempted to make an illegal U-turn through a small opening in a concrete barrier but was struck by an oncoming semi-truck. The collision tragically claimed the lives of 9-year-olds Kylie Lunn and Laila El Azri Ennassari, as well as Peery’s own 8-year-old daughter, Brooklyn. Alongside them, Peery’s then-5-year-old daughter Carrington and another child, Gabriella Casas, sustained severe injuries. Although Peery did not intend for this catastrophe, the jury determined her actions constituted reckless behavior, rendering her criminally responsible for the outcome.
At the sentencing hearing, the court heard poignant testimonies from the families of the victims, many of whom expressed their grief and outrage towards Peery’s apparent lack of responsibility. Additionally, prosecutors presented audio snippets from Peery’s jailhouse calls, where she lamented the blame she faced for the wreck and suggested the jury’s verdict was unfair. During her allocution, Peery did express remorse and acknowledged her grave mistake, stating that she continuously feels haunted by her actions. Despite her apologies, Peery had also deflected a part of the blame onto her fellow drivers and other authorities involved in the accident during the recorded calls, further complicating her public perception.
In her defense during the hearings, Peery’s attorney argued for leniency, emphasizing her mental state and recommending probation combined with therapy, citing the impact imprisonment would have on her surviving children. Several witnesses, including family members and friends, spoke on her behalf, claiming that a prison sentence would further traumatize her surviving children. However, not all testimony was sympathetic; Kylie’s mother expressed that Peery’s apparent nonchalance following the crash was distressing and that justice could not truly be served in a way that would alleviate the immense suffering caused.
Judge Heinen’s sentence included 32 months for each involuntary manslaughter charge, to run consecutively for the deaths of Laila and Kylie, coupled with further sentences for aggravated battery related to the injuries inflicted upon the two surviving children. The court ordered all sentences to run concurrently, resulting in a total of 64 months in prison. This sentence was slightly reduced from what prosecutors had sought, reflecting a complex balance of legal considerations, the gravity of loss experienced by victims’ families, and the circumstances surrounding Peery’s actions that led to the devastating collision.
Following the pronouncement of her sentence, Peery’s defense team filed a notice of appeal, seeking to contest the ruling. Although arguments were made to suggest she presented no danger to the community and would likely prevail on appeal, the prosecution pointed out the gravity of her actions that had led to the untimely deaths of three young girls. The judge ultimately denied the request for bail pending appeal, underscoring the seriousness with which the court viewed the case and the implications of the tragedy that forever altered the lives of all involved, leaving families shattered and a community mourning.
