Jackson County, Ore. — A deadly accident after a high-speed chase from East Medford to Central Point.
26-year-old Robert Brooks killed Catherine Hein in August before crashing into the Lil’ Pantry on Table Rock road.
Nearly 4 months later, the community has not forgotten.
“When I heard about the accident and the unfortunate death of the grandmother, I thought that was really quite sad,” remembers Lil’ Pantry customer Harry Vanikiotis.
Friday, Brooks admitted to several charges — including manslaughter.
Manslaughter is a Measure 11 crime, which means it carries a mandatory minimum sentencing.
“I’m glad that he’s taking responsibility for his actions,” Vanikiotis said.
Brooks won’t be sentenced for nearly 2 weeks, but the community hopes his plea is a step in the right direction for those who loved Catherine Hein.
“I hope that this will bring some closure to her family. It’ll be interesting to see what length of time he’ll have to serve,” Vanikiotis said.
Brooks is scheduled for sentencing on December 28th.
© 2024 KOBI-TV NBC5. All rights reserved unless otherwise stated.