Since the discovery of Thomas Kaylor’s sentence, I’m wondering:
Do you think justice was served?
I’ve corresponded with Jim Beidler, genealogic researcher and author of Roots and Branches, the only syndicated genealogy column in Pennsylvania. He reveals, “For the time period, probation was often the outcome in DUI cases – they often weren’t taken very seriously even when they resulted in deaths!”
Times have certainly changed and we know now that Thomas Kaylor died at a young age, which seems fitting. But do you think the Avenal Judicial Court should have given him a harsher sentence – even for the time period?
1966– eons ago in terms of our understanding of drunk driving. This man is a murderer. Not first degree — not intentional, but because he was inebriated he stole all those lives. Today drunk driving is taken much more seriously. It took organizations like MADD to bring the issue to the fore. He should have had at least 5 years if not more. Today, especially after more than one offense, he would have. Thanks for dropping by Family Archaeologist!
I’m married to Jerry. Justice was definitely NOT served. Thomas Kaylor robbed my husband of the nucleus of his family, as well as his dear sister whom he never got a chance to know. The ripple effect of this accident was astronomical. It’s just a shame that the courts treated drunk driving so frivolous back then.