‘She’s devastated my family’: Woman pleads guilty to DUI crash that killed a nurse

LIVINGSTON PARISH, La. (WAFB/Gray News) - Four years after a crash claimed the life of a 34-year-old nurse, the woman who caused the collision has accepted responsibility.

Kelli Lemoine entered guilty pleas to vehicular homicide and driving under the influence on Monday in Livingston Parish. She will be sentenced in August.

For Greg and Natalie Costello, the plea deal culminated after 23 different visits to the courthouse, where they had to face their daughter’s killer.

“She’s devastated my family,” Natalie Costello said. “I’ll never be the same person. There’s no going back, and it hurts.”

Authorities said Lemoine was driving in Springfield when she lost control of her car and crossed over the center line. She slammed into Brittany Costello, killing her.

A cross marks the spot where the 34-year-old took her last breath.

In court, Brittany Costello’s mother wore butterflies, her daughter’s ring and clutched a photo of her.

“After going to court for four years and the lack of remorse, I don’t hate her,” Natalie Costello said. “But it’s hard. I pray for her. But I hate what she’s done.”

Brittany Costello’s father remembers getting a knock on the door that caused their lives to stop.

“It was 11 p.m. on a Sunday. July 18, 2021,” he said. “We had a county sheriff’s deputy drive up to our home and ring the doorbell. He delivered the news that our daughter had been killed in an automobile accident.”

Her parents question why it took so long in what they believe was an open and shut case. Ultimately, the case went to an appeals court, where there was legal wrangling tied to the DWI test.

“Why is there a two-tiered justice system?” Natalie Costello asked.

With the first step at justice coming Monday, her mother and father are now preparing to give victim impact statements in two weeks.

“She loved life,” Natalie Costello said. “After Brittany was killed, everybody, people I didn’t meet, people said she loved the lord and she was a spiritual being. How much she loved her family and how giving she was.”

Lemoine is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 4 and will have to serve at least two-thirds of her sentence, with her crimes being considered crimes of violence.

Lemoine’s lawyer said his client has wanted to express remorse for a long time, but did not because of his advice. She is expected to apologize to the Costello family at her sentencing.