GLEN ST. MARY, Fla. -- Autumn Sky Smith had blonde hair, blue eyes, and the face of an angel. She died back in January after being hit by a car in front of her grandmother's house in Glen St. Mary. It's a picture that never leaves her great-grandmother's memory.
Lana Hunter said, "It's been hard. It's like I can't hardly face the day. I cry everyday. You know I have to look out my door, and everything comes back."
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Valorie Ferdon, 56, was driving the car that hit Autumn. And they say she didn't stop right away. They say she went to the store, and was pulled over on her way back home. Now, she's charged with two felony crimes. One involves leaving the scene of a deadly accident, which could carry a 30 sentence. The other involves her being involved in a deadly accident while driving on a suspended license. That charge carries a 5 year prison sentence. But Hunter says the family was told a more likely sentence would be 5 years in prison, or simply probation.
Hunter said, "It just seems kind of unfair that somebody that can hit and run and not get much time, especially when they had no drivers license, it just kinda seems unfair."
Action News spoke with Ferdon's attorney who said he couldn't confirm or deny what the family heard. But he did say he doesn't think his client will wind up being charged with leaving the scene. At the time of the accident, witnesses said it was possible Ferdon didn't even realize she had hit anything.
Ferdon hasn't gone to trial yet. But already Hunter and her family wonder if this woman will be held responsible for taking that little girl away from her family.
Ferdon will be in court again later this month.
