Man Sentenced To Life In Prison For Fatally Running Over Woman

LAS CRUCES, NM – The man accused of running over two people on purpose, killing one in the process, has been sentenced to life in prison Monday.

A jury found 19-year-old Jeremiah Dowling guilty of running over two women in April. Jurorswere asked to consider if Dowling committed murder or was simply involved in an accident. Monday, Dowling received his sentence. He will be eligible for parole after serving 35 years and nine months.

According to investigators, back in 2005, Dowling drove onto the median stripwhile driving onRoadrunner Parkway and attemptedto run down Andrea Thomas. Although he failed to hit Thomas, she received serious injuries after being grazed by his truck. Dowling sped away from Thomas only to hit and kill 57-year-old Sharon McNair down the road.

Prosecutorsstated Dowling was not intoxicated or under the influence of any foreign substance when the incident happened. He was well aware of what he was doing, they say.

“The thing that worries everyone in this case the most is: why? Why would you do such a thing? It couldn’t have been an accident,” stated prosecutor Susan Riedel.

Dowling’s lawyerclaimed the incidentdid happen exactly as prosecutors claim. However, heargued it was an accident and his client should have been charged with vehicular homicide instead of first degree murder.

Henry Vigil, a witness at the scene of the incident,stated, “I was thinking thathe could kill somebody or get in a car accident…A lot of people are jogging on that road quite a bit…A million thoughts go through your mind when you see something like that.”

Dowling was also found guilty of battery for intentionally hitting Thomas, for leaving the scene of the two accidents and for reckless driving.

Friends of the deceased, 57-year old Sharon McNair,statedshe was a single mother and a cancer survivor.

Bill Walker, one of McNair’s neighbors, said, “Based on the information, it was a just verdict. I feel sorry for the victims, the family of the defendant as well as the family of those who were lost in the trial.”

“I’m sorry for what has happened. If I had the chance, I’d make sure none of this would have happened…I would have been a lot smarter that day…I want to apologize to the family of the lady I hurt, and I just want to say I’m very sorry,” said Dowling after hearing his sentence.