Stephen Paul Bromstrup

Stephen Paul Bromstrup, Sarah Stone, Alexandra Quaroni, and Jennifer McKinney of Stuart, Florida, each, are victims of alcohol (that is, if Stephen Bromstrup is found guilty of using and abusing alcohol.) Their families are also suffering as victims of alcohol. Where are their respective attorneys in all this? They know alcohol is the underlying cause of this tragedy...but will they do something about it? Will they go after the alcohol beverage industry? I think not!!!

The alcohol beverage industry should be held culpable, and responsible for all costs that have been, and will be, incurred because of this unfortunate accident, as they should be for all alcohol related crimes and accidents. The insurance companies should be attempting to recoup their losses from the alcohol beverage industry, not from the little guy, like the Bromstrup family, who are also victims of alcohol!

Stephen Bromstrup should not be charged, but vindicated, of all Florida statutes referencing alcohol.(Strictly the opinion of the Founder of Victory Over Addiction International, Inc.) But That does not presume innocence of vehicular homicide.

Trial date: April 29, 2003; 8:30AM; Martin County Court, Stuart Florida; Case # 02-1163CFA

Robert Watson, attorney for Bromstrup, said he will argue for juvenile sanctions after a no contest plea is entered. Circuit Judge John Fennelly could sentence Bromstrup to the maximum of more than 30 years in prison, but Watson hopes that will not happen (Palm Beach Post, 4/4/03).

"I'm kind of surprised and sort of outraged," Bromstrup's attorney,Robert Watson, said of state's adult prison recommendation. (6/5/2003 Palm Beach Post):

It is alleged that Bromstrup is being convicted as an adult. At the time of the accident his BAL was .04. Adults are legally drunk at .08. If he is convicted as an adult, his legal adult BAL should be considered at .08. If this is factual, Bromstrup was not legally drunk with a .04 BAL. It is alleged that Bromstrup consumed two or three cans of beer over a period of hours. The question is: there were three minors in Bromstrup's car. Who sold one of the three minors beer, and which minor bought the beer. Bromstrup looks younger than his sixteen years. Is the store that sold the minor beer is responsible!Generated E-mail Form

This "BOY", not an adult, is a victim of alcohol! 0.08 BAL is an adult's blood alcohol level to be considered a DUI. This "BOY's" BAL was 0.04.

STUART -- While most of his classmates are enjoying a summer vacation as they prepare for their senior year in school, Stephen Bromstrup will be starting a long stay outside of Martin County -- in prison.

The 17-year-old Stuart youth, sentenced Monday to nine years in adult prison for the crash last June that killed two younger teenage girls, was transferred Friday to the Central Florida Reception Center, a clearinghouse for new prison inmates.

Meanwhile, his attorney said he's planning to appeal the sentence that sent shock waves through a packed Martin County courtroom.

"I'm still completely stunned," defense attorney Robert Watson said. "I'm going to do everything and anything I legally and ethically can do.... It certainly is my intention to try to mitigate this sentence."

Bromstrup spent the past four days in the medical section of the Martin County jail in a private cell that has glass doors so corrections officers could keep a close eye on him, sheriff's Sgt. Jenell Atlas said.

"He's just like any other inmate," she said. "He wears what they wear and eats what they eat."

The baby-faced teenager, who repeatedly broke down in tears in court, was separated from the general population because of his young age and lack of criminal history, Atlas said. His parents were allowed to visit every day.

"As soon as we get him, he will take a shower (and) change into a blue uniform with a white stripe down the side of the pants," Department of Corrections spokeswoman Debbie Buchanan said. "He'll be fingerprinted and photographed. He'll get a standard military-style haircut and he'll be seen by medical (personnel)."

Bromstrup will not be allowed visitors until they have completed applications and successfully been cleared through background checks -- a process that may take several weeks, she said.

Inmates typically stay at the reception center from three to six weeks while they undergo a lengthy assessment process that includes an interview and educational testing to determine what prison will become their new home.

Buchanan said Bromstrup most likely will be sent to one of Florida's four prisons designated for youthful offenders, but that's not guaranteed.

Circuit Judge John Fennelly recommended Bromstrup be placed in a youthful offender prison until his 21st birthday.

The judge convicted Bromstrup of two felony vehicular homicide charges stemming from the crash that killed Sarah Stone, 14, of Palm City and her friend Alexandra Quaroni, 13, of France. Bromstrup also was convicted of culpable negligence counts stemming from the injuries to Jennifer McKinney, 14, and her uncle Edward "Ted" Wetherbee, who drove the car they were riding in. Fennelly revoked Bromstrup's driver license for life.

But the judge did not sentence Bromstrup as a youthful offender -- a designation that carries a maximum sentence of six years and guarantees him placement in a youthful offender prison.

"Nine years is not a youthful offender sentence," Bromstrup's attorney Watson said. "They can put him anywhere they want in the prison system."

The stiff sentence shocked some of the victims' family members, including Tim Stone, whose daughter was killed in the crash. He said he expected Bromstrup to be labeled a youthful offender and sent to prison for fewer years.

Fennelly imposed the nine-year sentence prosecutors requested, noting the loss of two young lives and the fact that Bromstrup was speeding at least four times the speed limit and that he drank a few beers earlier that evening.

Assistant State Attorney Nita Denton said she and prosecutor Robert Belanger considered nine years a "fair and just sentence," considering Bromstrup's age and his actions that caused the deaths of two young girls. State sentencing guidelines recommended a prison term of nearly 22 years.

When deciding the appropriate prison, officials will consider Fennelly's recommendation for youthful offender prison, as well as Bromstrup's age, lack of prior record, educational or vocational goals, medical needs and the type of crimes, corrections spokeswoman Buchanan said.

If Bromstrup is sent to a youthful offender prison, such as the Indian River Correctional Institution in Vero Beach, he could remain there until his 24th birthday, but he could be sent to another prison with an adult population at any time for disobeying rules, she said.

Inmates in Florida now are serving 85 percent of their prison sentences. At that rate, Bromstrup would be eligible for release in 7 1/2 years, at age 25.

If his appeal is unsuccessful, Bromstrup would spend some time at the end of his sentence in an adult prison. Under a best-case scenario, he possibly could be eligible for placement at a work-release center before returning to society, Buchanan said.

Marcella Quaroni, who lost her only daughter in the crash, said Fennelly's sentence validated her family's position that the crash was not an accident.

"I think we were all surprised," she said of the moment the judge handed down the sentence. "I think he gave him the time he deserved.... You can't say, 'I killed two girls and I'll do 18 months or community service.' "

STUART -- The parents of Stuart teenager Stephen Bromstrup broke their silence for the first time Saturday since the night almost one year ago when their son sped through a stop sign and crashed into a car, killing two teenage girls and injuring a third.

"What we feel now, as parents, has launched us ever further to attempt to comprehend the life-long sorrow of those parents who have lost their children forever," Paul and Suzanne Bromstrup said in a written statement they prepared this week after their 17-year-old son was sentenced to nine years in prison.

"Our child will be coming home," they wrote. "Their children will never be coming home to them again in this life on earth."

Stephen Bromstrup pleaded no contest in April to two counts of vehicular homicide, four counts of culpable negligence and possession of alcohol by a minor stemming from last year's June 17 crash that killed Sarah Stone, 14, of Palm City and her friend, Alexandra Quaroni, 13, who was visiting from France.

The girls were returning home from the movies when Bromstrup, driving between 78 to 90 mph, ran a stop sign and slammed into a car driven by Edward "Ted" Wetherbee. Quaroni's cousin, Jennifer McKinney, 14, and Wetherbee, McKinney's uncle, survived.

In the statement, Paul Bromstrup apologized for his behavior Monday when he approached McKinney outside the courtroom after his son was sent to jail and angrily said, "Thank you, Jennifer." She asked the judge to punish Stephen Bromstrup as an adult and send him to prison for 30 years.

"First and foremost, a sincere apology to Jenny McKinney for the inappropriate outburst directed at her shortly after the conclusion of the sentencing hearing," Paul Bromstrup said.

"Secondly, we want to convey that during the hours in the courtroom June 9, 2003, we realized a new depth of pain," he and his wife wrote. "By this we mean that until that day, it was inconceivable to us to know that what we had been experiencing every minute of every day since June 17, 2002, was not the greatest pain of all."

During the sentencing hearing, the Bromstrups listened to the emotional and often heart-wrenching testimony from the victims' parents, Tim and Beth Stone and Marcella Quaroni.

"To the families and friends of Sarah, Alexandra and Jenny, you will all remain in our prayers forever," the Bromstrups wrote. "We asked that you pray for our family."

For many years, the Bromstrups were close friends with McKinney's parents. In fact, the Bromstrups introduced Andrew and Marie McKinney to each other in a restaurant parking lot about 16 years ago. Paul Bromstrup and Andrew McKinney were partners in a landscaping business 10 years ago, the two families built homes next to each other in Stuart and spent Christmas holidays together for many years. Their children, Jennifer and Stephen, exchanged Christmas gifts.

The Bromstrups' attorney and a priest from St. Joseph Catholic Church who counseled the Bromstrups said they advised them not to contact the victims' families after the crash.

The McKinneys and Stones interpreted the silence as a lack of remorse from Stephen Bromstrup. His blood-alcohol level was 0.04 percent, half the legal limit at which someone is presumed too drunk to drive.

Lawsuits filed by the victims' families accused him of drinking a few beers before and during a teen party the evening of the crash at Kanner Highway and Linden Street south of Stuart.

Stephen Bromstrup was transferred Friday from the Martin County jail to the Central Florida Reception Center in Orlando, where new prison inmates are evaluated before being sent to one of the state's prisons.

The Bromstrups said they had not been able to see their son since he was sentenced, though they have talked to him on the telephone. They had hoped to visit him this weekend.

Paul Bromstrup said he and his wife spent this week searching for the right words to let everyone know how they feel.

"Suzie and I together ask the friends and family of Stephen to please clear your hearts," they wrote. "Learn from this tragedy and go each day into the future with love, hope and kindness to all... with the grace of God."

Saturday, July 12

Alcohol crash victims' kin revive MADD

By Pat Moore, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Saturday, July 12, 2003
STUART -- Two Martin County mothers whose teenage daughter and niece were killed in an alcohol-related crash last year joined forces Friday with local law enforcement and community leaders to resurrect a MADD chapter in Martin County.

"We want to educate the people.... We don't want to pick up the pieces," said Beth Stone, whose 14-year-old daughter died when a 16-year-old Stuart youth who had been drinking beer crashed into the car in which she was riding.

"We've got pieces, and I would have much rather been part of the prevention," she said.

Stone and Marie McKinney, whose 13-year-old niece died in the same crash, said they sought victim assistance from Mothers Against Drunk Driving after their tragedies but discovered no local chapter existed.

A former Martin County MADD chapter that once drew hundreds of supporters to its annual candlelight vigils discontinued more than 12 years ago.

"I've been kind of a voice that has cried out for some assistance from MADD," Stone said. "I got very vocal when we weren't getting any response."

So both women are helping establish a new MADD chapter in Martin County, which had its first meeting Friday at the Alpha Ministries office on Kanner Highway.

The organization's mission is to stop drinking and driving, support the victims of alcohol-related crashes and stop underage drinking, organizers said. The group also provides public awareness and education as well as monitoring the effectiveness of the courts and law enforcement.

The Children's Services Council awarded $31,330 to Alpha Ministries in May to hire a full-time project director for a Martin County MADD chapter.

"I see this as a primary prevention tool," said Alpha Ministries Director John Glenn, who has counseled victims and perpetrators of drunken driving crimes for 25 years.

"If we can prevent one tragedy from happening, we've done enough," he said. "I'm tired of picking up the pieces after the fact from tragedies that are senseless and do not need to occur."

Andy Hindman, executive director of MADD Florida, said Martin County could become the 27th chapter in the state when it meets the organizational criteria.

He told organizations they must recruit at least 20 members and complete 12 weeks of research regarding issues of drunken driving and underage drinking on nationally, statewide and locally before electing officers.

He said MADD provided support to 3,000 victims of drunken driving crashes last year, far less than the families of 1,000 people who were killed and 20,000 others injured statewide.

The group's goal is to establish a chapter in each of Florida's 67 counties, he said.

"MADD is not a prohibitionist organization... and we are not a bunch of mad mothers," he said of the group, which a group of angry mothers started 20 years ago.

The organization now has more male than female members. It includes victims of alcohol-related crashes and concerned citizens.

Organizers, who will begin recruiting individual and corporate members in Martin County, will meet again Aug. 7.

pat_moore@pbpost.com

Bromstrup to appeal prison term in car crash

Lawyers for the teen who killed two girls notified the court they objected to his adult punishment.

By Gabriel Margasak staff writer
July 8, 2003

STUART — Attorneys for 17-year-old Stephen Bromstrup filed a notice on Monday to appeal his nine-year prison sentence and his treatment as an adult in his trial for the June 17, 2002, crash that killed two teenage girls.

Bromstrup pleaded no-contest to two counts of vehicular homicide in the crash, which killed Sarah Stone, 14, and Alexandra Quaroni, 13, and seriously injured Jennifer McKinney, 14.

Judge John Fennelly sentenced Bromstrup as an adult June 9 in a highly emotional proceeding.

The terse filing Monday stated the grounds of the appeal would center on the judgment, sentence and the "trial Court's imposition of adult punishment on this juvenile offender."

The appeals process could take more than a year, during which Bromstrup continues to serve his sentence.

Bromstrup is being held at the Central Florida Reception Center in Orlando, Department of Corrections records show. The facility holds adult and youth in minimum- and medium-security security conditions.

West Palm Beach attorney John Olea, who is handling the appeal with partner Richard Lubin, said Monday's filing was the beginning of a long judicial process.

"In my experience, an appeal runs eight months to a year-and-a-half," Olea said.

The clerk of the District Court of Appeal has about two months plus possible extensions to send him transcripts and other paperwork from Bromstrup's court case, after which detailed appeals papers are prepared.

Olea declined to discuss the case further, saying he had to review the entire file.

- gabriel.margasak@scripps.com