“I’ll never forgive him,” Darna declared, her voice tinged with a mix of sorrow and steel as she addressed the impact of a tragic accident that forever altered her family’s dynamic. The family of 80-year-old Mary Lou Sharpe, killed by a drunk driver, expressed deep frustration and grief Tuesday as Cody Curtis, 29, accepted a plea deal in Lee County Court.
Curtis was found guilty of DUI manslaughter in connection with the fatal incident that took Sharpe’s life.
Cody Curtis, 29, was convicted of DUI manslaughter of 80-year-old Mary Lou Sharpe.
On that fateful evening, April 13th, 2024, Sharpe and her friends enjoyed a meal outside That BBQ Place in Matlacha. But joy turned to horror when Curtis lost control of his vehicle, barreling off the road at a harrowing speed. With a blood alcohol concentration of .137%—more than double the legal limit—he struck the group, killing Sharpe instantly while leaving the other four severely injured.
In court, Curtis entered a plea of “no contest,” resulting in a 24-year prison sentence, alongside a permanent revocation of his driver’s license. A gavel fell, marking the closure of legal battles, yet the emotional scars remained painfully open.
Amid the tension, Darna and her family gathered in the courtroom, their presence a somber reminder of the life lost. An impact statement from Sharpe’s daughter cut through the courtroom’s air, raw and filled with emotion.
The atmosphere was palpable, a silence accentuated by the absence of the other crash victims who were still struggling with recovery and remained outside the courtroom walls. Missing voices echoed the tragedy, amplifying the heavy burden felt by those present.
“The victims that survived are still recovering—that’s why they’re not here in court today,” Darna spoke thoughtfully outside the courtroom, her eyes reflecting a profound sense of loss. She shared the emotional toll the tragedy has taken on her family, particularly as it has robbed them of precious traditions. “My birthday is the day after my grandma’s. We always celebrated our birthdays together. He’s taken that from me.”
Her words hung in the air, heavy yet honest. Each syllable bore the weight of a painful truth, the kind that resonates in the quietest corners of the heart, where memories nestle alongside grief.
As the final court proceedings have concluded, the emotional aftermath looms large over the Sharpe family. Darna now faces the heart-wrenching task of explaining to her children why their great-grandmother is no longer at the family gatherings she once cherished. Each explanation will be a thread woven into the fabric of their family story—a tale tinged with love interrupted by a tragedy that should never have happened.
