Mother Fights to Keep Daughter’s Killer Behind Bars as Parole Eligibility Looms

Kathy Hall has made it her mission to ensure that the man responsible for her daughter’s death remains imprisoned. Hall’s 18-year-old daughter, Hailey King, was struck by a truck driven by Sergio Rodriguez in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on November 7, 2016, while she rode a scooter with a friend. The vehicle was traveling 36 miles per hour over the speed limit at the time of impact.

The collision threw King onto the truck’s hood before Rodriguez continued driving, swerving across lanes and ejecting her onto the pavement. King sustained severe injuries including a brain stem hemorrhage, inner and outer cranial hemorrhages, a burst spleen, and a lacerated liver. She died shortly after arriving at the hospital, leaving behind a 2-year-old daughter named Brooklyn.

Rodriguez received a 17-year prison sentence for manslaughter, battery, and leaving the scene of a crime. However, Hall discovered that after serving just one and a half years, Rodriguez became eligible for parole. Hall now faces recurring trauma as she attends parole hearings every two years to testify against his release.

Hall said in an exclusive interview that Rodriguez disappeared for three days following the incident before police apprehended him. She claimed he was released on bond within an hour of his arrest and that authorities declined to notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of his immigration status despite his illegal presence in the country.

The incident also claimed a second life. Osmin “David” Gutierrez, King’s friend, became trapped beneath the truck and was dragged over a mile before Rodriguez stopped at an apartment complex. Gutierrez lost both legs in the accident and died two years later from a blood clot related to his injuries.

Hall expressed frustration with the judicial process, stating that her family was treated as criminals while Rodriguez received protection throughout the trial. She emphasized that her daughter deserves justice and vowed to continue her fight to keep Rodriguez incarcerated. “I’ll never stop fighting; I’m going to do everything I can to keep my promise to her,” Hall said.