Columbus father admits to killing daughter in 2020 car crash

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)— One Columbus murder trial started and finished Monday after one father admitted to killing his daughter in a car crash

Marcus Lewis entered a guilty plea to homicide by vehicle, attempting to elude, and three counts of endangering a child while driving under the influence.

The charges stem from a 2020 crash. Police were attempting to pull over Lewis’ car that was identified in connection to a separate suspected felony. Lewis had admitted to driving under the influence when fleeing police; the car crashed, killing his seven-year-old daughter.

“When this all took place, he would have never expected that the end result of any decision that was made any, snap judgment would have been that his daughter lost her life,” defense attorney William Kendrick said.

Lewis had two of his other children in the car at the time of the crash. He was originally facing a felony murder charge that can carry a life sentence in the state of Georgia. He pleaded to the lesser charge of homicide by vehicle.

“We were able to negotiate out of that and avoid that,” Kendrick said. “Then also with his criminal history, he could have been charged as a four-time recidivist, which would mean that he would do day for day on any sentence that he was given. We were able to negotiate out of that as well.”

Lewis did receive the maximum sentencing recommendations on each of his charges. Superior Court Judge Tippi Burch sentenced him to serve 23 years. Lewis will be eligible for parole after serving 23 years.

Previous Report

June 19, 2020: Columbus shooting suspect involved in crash that killed 7-year-old daughter ordered held without bond | WRBL

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