Billings woman gets 20 years for vehicular homicide

Posted: Sep 1, 2010 5:38 PM by Angela Douglas - Q2 News
Updated: Sep 1, 2010 6:54 PM

BILLINGS - UPDATE: The evening of February 22, 2010 was much like any other for Merry Jane Trewhella, of Billings. She spent the day with her sister, Carol, and was wrapping up the day running errands for a neighbor, but around 7 p.m. all that came to an end.

Tawny Fisher-Jones, 34, made the decision to drive drunk that night.

At the Billings intersection of King Avenue West and South 29th Street West, Fisher-Jones ran a red light and collided with Trewhella's vehicle. Trewhella, a 59-year-old retired teacher, died at the scene.

Billings police had responded to a different complaint involving Fisher-Jones on that same day, but prior to the fatal accident.

According to the police report, Fisher-Jones was clearly intoxicated at that point, but officers could not arrest her because she didn't have the keys to the vehicle she was in and she hadn't broken any laws at that point.

Just two hours later she caused the accident that killed Merry Jane Trewhella.

Trewhella's son, Cory, is a Billings fire fighter as was on duty the night his mother was killed.

Now, nearly seven months later, C. Trewhella remembered that night as he testified during his mother's killer's sentencing.

"From having to tell my dad to his face that my mom was dead because I didn't want to do it over the phone, to the faces of my fellow colleagues that night when they found out that this senseless death was the mother of one of their own," C. Trewhella recalled of the night that changed his life forever.

Tawny Fisher-Jones was sentenced Wednesday morning in Yellowstone County District Court. Judge G. Todd Baugh's courtroom was full as he listened to emotional testimonies from the victim's family members.

"In the timber of his voice, I knew that something was terribly wrong," C. Trewhella's uncle, Ralph Boerner, remembered. "And Cory said, 'Ralph, I think my mother is dead.' I began crying then."

Trewhella's husband, John, was emotional as he spoke of his wife of 38 years when he took the stand Wednesday.

"I couldn't hold her, I couldn't kiss her, I didn't get to tell her I was sorry that I wasn't there to protect her," J. Trewhalla said through tears. "This red box is what I have left. This is what I get. It's her remains. I ask you how that is fair and just? My heart is broken."

Anger and resentment is still felt in Trewhella's loved ones, but in their hearts they remember the type of women she was and are desperately trying to find peace.

"My dear sister would want something good out of this," Boerner pleaded to Fisher-Jones. "And through you, is the only good that I can see."

Fisher-Jones had been in Judge Baugh's courtroom before. In 2005 she was arrested for passing out in her parked car, with her four small children in the back seat.

Judge Baugh recalled the previous meeting and stated that she'd stood before him once before and didn't do what she said she was going to do.

"Miss Fisher Jones, you owe the rest of your life to self-improvement and service to others," Judge Baugh said. "You should forever keep this in mind."

Because she decided to get behind the wheel while under the influence, for the next 20 years Fisher-Jones will sit behind bars and Trewhella's family will move on despite one very large void in their lives.

Trewhella's daughter-in-law, April, sister, Carol, and son, Jim, also testified Wednesday.

Earlier Story:

BILLINGS - A Billings woman convicted of vehicular homicide while under the influence will spend the next twenty years behind bars at the Montana State Women's Prison.

Tawny Fisher-Jones, of Billings, was sentenced to 30 years with 10 suspended Wednesday morning in Yellowstone County District Court.

On February 22, 2010 Fisher-Jones caused the death of Merry Jane Trewhella, 59, of Billings, when their vehicles collided at the intersection of King Avenue West and 29th Street West.

Judge G. Todd Baugh's courtroom was full as he listened to emotional testimonies from the victim's sister, brother, two sons, daughter-in-law, and husband.

Family members shared powerful memories and expressed the quality woman Merry Jane Trewhella was, not only in her family, but also in her community.

Fisher-Jones was traveling on King Avenue West when she ran a red light and collided with a Trewhella's car at the intersection of 29th Street and King Avenue West.

Trewhella died at the scene.

RAW VIDEO: King Avanue fatal accident

WEB EXTRA: Driver in fatal crash involved in prior police call that day

BILLINGS - According to Billings Police Sgt. Kevin Iffland, Billings police responded to 2302 Alderson Avenue around 5 p.m. on February 22, after a phone call claiming a vehicle was stuck in a yard. When authorities arrived they found a silver 2002 Ford Ranger pickup truck parked in the driveway/alley with Tawny Fisher-Jones of Billings sitting in the driver seat.

According to the police report, Fisher-Jones was clearly intoxicated but the keys were not inside the vehicle.

A witness, who had the keys, told police she was trying to find Fisher-Jones a ride home. Eventually the witness agreed to give Fisher-Jones a ride home.

Iffland says police had no probable cause at that point to arrest Fisher-Jones because she hadn't done anything wrong legally.

Within two hours of the police leaving 2302 Alderson Avenue, they responded to another call.

Fisher-Jones was a driver involved in the fatal car accident that killed Merry Jane Trewhella.