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No Bail For Driver In Crash That Killed Mom, Injured Girl

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 25, 2008

TAMPA - A judge today denied bail for Cheryl Riemann, who is facing DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide charges in the Sept. 10 head-on crash that killed a mother and left the woman's child in serious condition.

Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Walter Heinrich said Riemann posed a danger to public safety. He also cited her previous conviction for driving with a revoked license.

Florida Highway Patrol traffic homicide investigator Frank Burke testified that when he handed Riemann a summons for driving on the wrong side of the road, she wanted to know where.

When he told her on the Selmon Crosstown Expressway, he said Riemann responded, "I don't remember being on the Crosstown. Why would I be there?"

Jennifer O'Boyle, 24, was killed in the crash. Her daughter, Summer Moll, 4, who was riding with her, survived but remains hospitalized with a brace on her neck, casts on both arms and metal rods supporting her legs.

After the hearing, Arthur Rosian, O'Boyle's stepfather, said Riemann's memory lapse was "gut wrenching."

"It's beyond belief for someone to get to that point where you don't even remember," he said. "It's sad. It's really sad."

Authorities said tests showed Riemann's blood-alcohol was about three times the level at which Florida law deems a driver intoxicated.

Rosian wants Riemann to receive the maximum penalty.

Rosian said his granddaughter "keeps us going." He said her condition has been upgraded to stable and that she might be moved from intensive care to pediatrics.

"Summer still has a long road," he said. "She has a lot of obstacles."

Rosian asked people to pray for Summer and Riemann's two children.

"There are also two other children directly affected by this," he said.

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837 or esilvestrini@tampatrib.com.

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