ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. — A Lincoln County woman who pleaded no contest in a crash that killed three high school students in February 2023 will serve four months in jail as part of a suspended execution of sentence.
Hailey Zenk, 19, was sentenced Monday in St. Charles County Circuit Court to 10 years for driving while intoxicated resulting in two or more deaths, seven years for DWI leading to serious injury and seven years each for three counts of involuntary manslaughter.
Zenk entered an Alford plea in April, which means that she did not admit guilt but acknowledged that there was enough evidence to convict her.
Judge Michael Fagras ruled all five sentences would run concurrently, but ultimately decided to impose a suspended execution of sentence. Zenk will serve 120 days in St. Charles County jail followed by probation. As long as she meets the conditions of her sentence, she will not serve time in prison.
Zenk was speeding at 81 mph in a 35 mph zone along South Chantilly Road when the car went airborne and left the roadway, then struck a tree and flipped. Three teenagers, all students in the Lincoln County R-III School District, were killed. Zenk, then 17, and a fourth passenger were injured.
A blood sample taken after the crash showed a combination of drugs and alcohol in Zenk's system, prosecutors said.
“Kaeden never met a stranger and he always wanted to step in and help others," Stephanie Stagina said to the judge in court Monday. Stagina is the aunt of Kaeden Tyler, on of the teenagers who was killed. "Kaeden’s dad and I as well as all his family and friends are still absolutely devastated a year and a half later. To not have Kaeden in our lives is something we never could have imagined."
“We are greatly disappointed and outraged. It’s just unthinkable that they think 120 days is going to teach her anything because not even killing three people did,” said Jordan Reichert, Kaeden Tyler’s aunt.
“120 days? That’s one month for every one of those kids she killed," said Debbie Bogert, the grandmother of Trevor Bogert, who was critically injured. "My grandson underwent 19 blood infusions and 11 surgeries and still has more surgeries to undergo in the future. All of the family and friends today got slapped in the face when we heard that sentence. To see the look in my grandson’s eyes when he was told what she got, it’s just unthinkable."
“My client has plead guilty on April 15. She’s trying to take accountability for this. This is certainly a different situation,” Nathan Steimel, Hailey Zenk’s lawyer said in court.
“I’m just sorry that this happened. I wish it never did,” a sobbing Hailey Zenk said before the judge sentenced her.
“That girl was just crying because she now has to spend 120 days in jail. I think that Lincoln County failed everyone. I think the St. Charles judge failed everyone,” added Debbie Bogert.