Time To Be Heard
By John Davis • Jun 5th, 2006 • Category: Rants and RavesI continue to follow up on the tragic loss of Gabriella Muelher-Roosevelt in a hit-and-run collision last fall. Charges have yet to be filed but are expected very soon.
Just to recap: Around 5:30 am on October 17th 2005, Mia Gribble was driving a full-size Checy truck when she crossed Highway 104 from 240th Street SW in Edmonds. She failed to yield the right of way for Gabriella Muelher-Roosevelt who was eastbound on her Honda Shadow. Ms. Muelher struck Ms. Gribble’s vehicle just behind the cab with enough force to spin the truck around to face the opposite direction. Debris from the motorcycle was spread across all four lanes. According to witnesses Ms. Gribble sat in her truck for a few seconds before backing up and leaving the scene.
Police located the truck and 18-year-old Ms. Gribble at her home four hours later where she refused to talk to police. Only after a search warrant was issued did Ms. Gribble surrender to police. A blood test done at a local hospital was positive for alcohol.
Why do I bring this up again? Here’s why:
Mia Gribble is scheduled to graduate from Edmonds-Woodway High School on June 16th. Since the collision Mia Gribble completed her senior year of high school without repurcussions. She was allowed to not only compete on her school’s basketball team but to serve as captain. She may even receive some awards or recognition for her “leadership” at graduation ceremonies.
This is wrong.
Innocent until proven guilty, right? Absolutely. But, consider the following undeniable facts:
- Mia Gribble left the scene of an accident that resulted in a death
- Mia Gribble tested positive for alcohol four hours after the accident
This is not the kind of “leadership” that I want to see rewarded. I am disappointed in Ms. Gribble, her parents, the coaches, staff and administration of Edmonds-Woodway High School, and anyone else who feels that Ms. Gribble should be recognized as a leader in any way.
If you agree, or even you disagree, I encourage you to let your voice be heard. Send a message to the Principal of Edmonds-Woodway High School and the Athletic Director letting them know your thoughts on the situation. But please, make your point in a respectful, dignified manner that does justice to the grace of Gabriella’s life.
- Alan M. Weiss, Principal, weissa@edmonds.wednet.edu
- Julie Stroncek, Athletic Director, stroncekj@edmonds.wednet.edu
John Davis is the owner, editor and publisher of Northwest Cycle Report. John also owns and writes for MotoSkagit.com and is the administrator for the Washington 120 State Park Tour. In addition to his own sites, John is a contributing author for MotorcycleLife.com and Motorcyclebloggers.com. He lives in Mount Vernon, WA and rides a candy-red Honda VTX1800 Retro.
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Thank you for keeping us posted on this situation. Another fact not mentioned is that Mia had several traffic tickets just in the year prior to this incident, Also Mia Gribble is on “the HEAT” allstar team this summer. Rewards for people who drive, kill and run are unacceptable. As a society we must do more and work harder to teach our children the difference between right and wrong these days. It speaks to a lack of social consciousness and moral impairment. It also causes our roads to be more dangerous than necessary.
Let’s not be silent about this process.
Seems like a long time for this case to close. She is free to do as she pleases if she hasn’t been convicted. I wonder if she attended the funeral cermony of Gabriella? If gabriella were alive, I wonder what she would say Mia’s punishment should be?
Brian - I’ll admit that I wrestled with this one before I posted it. As you say, she is free to do as she pleases if she hasn’t been convicted.
But I kept coming back to the undisputed and unavoidable fact that she left a human being to die in the street. I don’t think a conviction is needed for there to be consequences for that act.
I was just bored and surfing search engines in the middle of the night and ran across you’re blog.
I’m graduating from Edmonds-Woodway next week in Gribble’s class and I completely agree with you. I’ve come to realize that living in the middle-upper class area, money gets you very far. Coming from the average middle class working family, it disgusts me to see people get away with such atrocious things with little penalty.
It’s a well established that she continues to roam freely due to the wealth of her family. The thing that bothers me more was she was on the road again in a fairly new Jetta not to long after this incident.
Money in the country buys people out of too much. Its political bull, but there isn’t a lot we can do about it. Quite a few students actually feel that she should be in jail or something other than free roam. There is just a lot of injustice in the world.
That’s my two cents.
We all need to be aware of things like this, too often you do not get any follow up and think nothing of it anymore, that’s one of the reasons I joined the AMA
It may be a rosey, picture perfect life for her now at such a young age. I guarantee, when she hits 30 it will haunt her. Many things that one experiences at 19 don’t have the same impact as when you’re much older. And the reason is when you are older, you don’t have your parents to fall back on and you realize you are responsible for your own actions. The “young and stupid” excuse won’t work at 30. I see an emotional wreck in her future.
Alcohol? Where the hell do you people get your information? Yes this situation was awful and unfortunent, but she is an amazing person and I’ve known her my whole life. I think that others should not immediatly place judgment until they know both sides and both individuals. I agree that she made a mistake for leaving, could you imagine how you would feel in such a situation? I feel deeply for both sides and cannot imagine the loss they are and will continue to grieve for, for years to come. I just think that people need to be more considerate about the whole ordeal and show some respect. She’s just now 19, put yourself in her position. Consequences are sooner than you all think, and unless you know her and her family, you all have no right to criticize.
Thank you for commenting. I would love to hear Mia’s side of this story. Anytime she wants to speak up, she can drop me a line.
In case I didn’t make this clear, alcohol was never a factor in the accident, she was not drinking. I would just like to know who told you that she tested positive for alcohol because she did not, maybe you should confirm your information with the police. Thank you.
Source: HeraldNet
Have you anything else to say “Close family friend”?
Who did this person get their inforation? May I ask who Stern is? So why wasn’t she charged with under age drinking? Whatever, I’m not going to participate in what you all believe is true. If you want to make up false accusations in order to grieve, be my guest. I’ll keep both sides in my prayers.
Close family friend,
I have made nothing up. I have the documentation to back up every statement.
Since you elected not to read the source article that I linked, I will fill in some blanks for you.
“Stern” is Paul Stern, Snohomish County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney. He handled the case against Mia.
On the day of her arrest Mia was taken to Steven’s Hospital by Edmonds Police Officer Robert Barker for a blood draw to check for the presence of alcohol. The result of that test was a blood alcohol level of .06. The limit in Washington for persons under 21 years of age is .02.
Subsequent testing of Mia’s blood by the Washington State Toxicology Laboratory revealed the presence of the drug ecstasy. In the opinion of the laboratory officials, the combined amounts of alcohol and ecstasy were sufficient to impair Mia’s ability to drive at the time of the crash. (See the Affadavit of Probable Cause here).
The charges filed against Mia were the result of a plea bargain between the Prosecutor’s office and Mia’s attorney. This is the most likely reason that she was not charged with Vehicular Homicide and/or Driving Under the Influence.
I was certainly not informed of this, they must have wanted to keep that matter private. Thank you for your information.
Sonya DeWitt ought to check her facts a bit closer before she writes. Mia did not finish out her senior year on the school basketball team and played with “the HEAT” several summers ago - not this past summer. I think the weight of this incident has already had many reprocussions. Sonya was quick to judge - let’s leave it to those we’ve elected to handle the job instead.
I feel very bad for the victim, her family and also for a young woman and her family for a terrible accident that she will probably pay for the rest of her life - likely well past whatever sentence that is imposed. This is as it should be - taking a life is a very serious action and we should all learn from this.
Reader,
A quick search of the HeraldNet’s sports archive reveals that Mia was playing basketball for Edmonds-Woodway into January of 2006. She even scored 10 points in a game in late December of 2005. Clearly she was an important part of the team.
Someone with a little time would have noted that the school season ends in February, the playoffs in March and that Mia did not finish out the season as I said. Whether she should have been allowed to play is and should not be in question. People live their lives before and after their court dates. A little more searching and you would note that Mia is listed as a member of “the HEAT” 15’s teams. This means she was a member when she was age 15 and under - hardly this past summer. Ranting about the fairness of her inclusion on an All-Star team two years before this terrible accident is ridiculous. Was Ted Bundy a cub scout? Let’s pick on them too.
I can’t and won’t defend her actions after the accident. She was/is young and made at least two terrible mistakes. She will likely live with them the rest of her life - well past whatever sentence in imposed. People should mourn the loss of the victim and let the system work.
From what I know, Mia Gribble is a really nice person and a great teammate for the past years that I’ve known and attended school with her at Edmonds-Woodway HS. However, for those that have never known her, I think any implications about her character are hearsay. Apparently, she did make a couple of huge mistakes, and I particularly don’t see why some would be interested in having her pay for her mistakes the rest of her life, or in some other way. In grievance of someone’s loss, it doesn’t need to incorporate blame for the mistake of someone else, especially because it was a mistake and the fact that she is still really young. To be frank, living in a middle-upper class community as a middle-upperclass citizen might get you around, but the dirty truth is that life isn’t fair and the most we can do is wait to see how the system works the case since there isn’t getting around all of the bureaucracy of the judicial system. In addition, since she was not yet convicted, Weiss and Stroncek the EW Athletic Director really didn’t have authority or a legitimate reason within their jurisdiction in restricting Gribble from playing basketball at our school even if they believed they should.
EW Student,
Thank you for participating in this discussion.
Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol and leaving the scene of a serious accident are serious mistakes. Mia’s mistakes cost someone their life. I ask only that she be punished to the full extent of the law. What punishment would Ms. Roosevelt have received had she been under the influence, hit Mia and left the scene? I am certain that it would have been harsh.
I understand that Mia is young. My own daughter is very nearly the same age. I sympathize with her parents. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to see their daughter go through this. I applaud them for any role they may have had in encouraging Mia to accept responsibility and negotiate a plea with the prosecutor.
There was never any dispute that Mia left the scene of the accident. This is not the behavior I would want to see in influential student atheletes. I think Weiss and Stroncek should have taken a different stand.
Punishment exists for two reasons: to punish the doer for their crime and to serve as a deterrent to others by reminding them of the consequences of their actions. Without harsh consequences we cannot send the message that we will not tolerate such behavior.
I believe it is up to the system and her parents to provide the needed correction for her actions. It is not up to each individual to dole out their own punishment - behaving like a judge and jury with arbitrary punishments. Where would it end? Should her minister excommuicate her? Should her bank decide she isn’t “their” kind of customer? We have a court system and correctional institutions for a reason. We don’t need vigilante justice being handed out by those that read the newspaper. Like anyone else Mia will be and should be given her day in court rather than being prejudged by anyone. You do not say you were a witness to the incident so your information can only be hearsay until it becomes part of the court record - an AD or coach would be operating in like manner if they acted as you wish. Barring her from her team could easily have opened the school to discrimination litigation with no point. Again, we don’t live in a society where scarlet letters are worn - let the court system work and let’s allow those that can objectively and unemotionally assign fair punishment - trust them to do their jobs. Pray for the victim’s family, pray for Mia’s family and finally, yes, pray for Mia that she will learn a very hard lesson and come out of this a better person.
I can honestly say I have been priviliaged to know Mia her entire life and she is the brightest, most loving, caring and selfless person I have ever known. Yes, she has been involved in sports her entire life and is great at them, but does that make her a terrible person: NO! Yes, she graduated high school because she was a dedicated student, does that make her a terrible person: NO! Yes, she was in an unfortunate accident, does that make her a terrible person: NO. I want you all to remember when you were 18 years old and tell me how you would react to being in an ACCIDENT as the one she was in, scared and in shock. Not one person or psychiatrist for that matter can tell me how you would react because you don’t know until you are in the situation yourself and make that “split-second” decision. This was a horrible ACCIDENT, they call them accidents for a reason and I will be the first to say that this was not done on purpose or with any malicious intent. I feel for both sides of this horrible situation and you can all make as many accusations as you want but you will never know the amount of hurt it has caused everyone on both sides. It was an accident. We will never know every detail therefore we can’t point fingers and it is not up to readers of an article to convict her. I want you all to realize that making hurtful comments is insensitive and uncalled for. I hope you all can understand when I ask you to keep your opinions to yourself and let both families get through this really difficult time.
I am posting this comment to show my love and support for Mia. I have read some of the disgusting comments on this page regarding unfactual information on mia…and it doesn’t matter because in my heart and our entire family’s heart we know the facts and what a great/loving person she is. No matter what happens, I want everyone to know this accident was awful but you can’t want someone to suffer for their entire life. is that supposed to make you the bigger and better person? I know the victim’s family is going through a lot. Our family is too. It is awful for both sides. She is suffering too and she is going to face the reprecussions. I just want her to know how much we love and support her through this tough time and we be there 100% to fight this.
I’ve read so many things about this accident. I truly believe it to be an accident. I feel bad for both parties involved. I also have tried to pull out onto Edmonds Way. Its a tough area. Going back to the scene of the accident, Mia had to cross 5 lanes in a dual cab pickup. The motorcycle hit her in the rear panel of the truck, and spun the truck around. I can’t help but think of the speed from a motorcycle and the impact causing a full size truck to be spun around. I know at the time, the mornings were so foggy. All that in its own I can see as bad. I realize that there are now other factors involved, however, if Mia had stayed I believe it would have been ruled a terrible accident. Mia left, she was scared, young, confused etc. I know this girl, and she absolutely is not the villian some have made her out to be. No matter how you look at it, its a loss all the way around!
Please everyone, go to #12 and click on the link John has provided. Read the Affadavit of Probably Cause the charges were based on. Then go home and talk to your kids about Ecstasy. Here’s a link to a web site about that: http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/drug_info_ecstasy.asp
I also have known Mia since I was about 9 years old. My experience with her seems to differ from everyone else of her “close family and friends”. I found her to be blank… blank as in no emotions.. no sense of compassion or teamwork. (AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WANT TO SAY WHERE DID I GET MY INFO.. WELL I PLAYED WITH HER ON A TEAM FOR 6 YEARS!!!) This is why I am still shocked that everywhere you look on Google it is mostly what amazing team player she was… hmm. I am not here to bash her or to talk crap.. I just know in my heart looking at the video of Mia Gribble at the sentancing that I have seen that look once or twice. This is not a look of remorse or feeling sorry for the life she took (accidental or not..) this is the look of poor me and a look of a pissed off girl who is thinking “why are they doing this to me!?”. And I agree that Mia probably didn’t MEAN to hit the women but I am 19 myself and I know that I if I CHOOOSE to get in a car … if I used ecstasy a minute or a day ago escpecially while drinking.. I would be 100% responsible for my driving. I have been a victim in a superior court case and I showed more sorrow and love to the family who hurt me than Mia APPEARS to the poor family who lost a very dear one.
Gabriella was an honors student at the University of Washington in my department. We’ve been good friends for 10 years since then.
She is bright, caring, and selfless. She does work with Compassionate Friends, a network for bereaved parents, having lost her own son many years ago.
She struggled through and overcame many surgeries pertaining to various injuries, while successfully holding at least two jobs to pay her way through graduate school to earn her Master’s.
She is great at offering help (she helped teach me how to ride a motorcycle, making me go out in the rain on a weekend so that she could watch me practice and give me safety tips!) Boy is she ever a mother hen!
One of the best things we love about our Gabi is that she can be counted on to always come to our holiday parties. And when she’s there, she dominates the party with fantastic stories of her life travels. Her mischievous smile and quirky humor always steal the show.
Gabi, I think you would be tickled to know that over 100 people showed up to pay their respects to you and your accomplishments at your service, as quick as it had to be put together for as sudden as this tragedy was. Your family, friends, and professional community really came together for you.
We all got a chance to meet your other friends and learn how you had touched others, just like you touched us! And we hugged and cried together as we recounted how we felt when the news of your death traveled over the airwaves to us and hit us like a hard punch in the gut.
Meeting your brother and sister at your funeral, I can see where you get your spirit. Oh my gosh, your baby sister cares so much about you and adores you! And she is like you in so many ways.
I wish you well in your travels. I miss you terribly.
From the sentencing hearing (http://www.komotv.com/news/local/4859826.html) I want to share words from Gabriella’s family:
The victim’s brother, Juergen Mayhoff traveled overseas to address the Gribble family in court.
“What I want to ask Mrs and Mr. Gribble and Mia is to open your heart and send at least a signal to my family,” he said.