TK Hill gets 4 years in prison

Members of the courtroom audience were completely silent as Judge Peter Estrada addressed Travis Kelton Hill III before formally sentencing him for DUI manslaughter on Monday.

"Mr. Hill, if anyone doubts what the effects of driving under the influence manslaughter have ... on a family, they just need to go no farther than this particular case," Estrada said.

Hill, 20, entered into a plea agreement in September for his role in the Dec. 30, 2006 death of Kristin Marie Dessingue, 16, of Coconut Creek. She was a passenger in his truck and the defendant's blood alcohol level was .179, above the legal limit of .08.

As per the agreement, Hill was sentenced to four years in the Florida State Prison system and six years probation.

"Right now, there is a father and a mother that will never know the joys most parents have about their child's graduation from high school, perhaps college, their marriage or that one special phone call, sir, when they tell their parent 'I'm pregnant with your grandchild,'" Estrada said. "That's never going to happen for this family."

Before Estrada formally sentenced Hill, members of the victim's family addressed the court and the defendant.

"I had always heard it said that the greatest loss a person can experience is the death of a child," said Steve Dessingue, Kristin's father. "Having lost both close friends, saying goodbye to my father and losing my brother, I would, without question or hesitation, agree. Everything pales in comparison to the 11 o'clock phone call on Dec. 30, 2006 from Kristin's mother delivering the most feared phone call a parent can ever imagine."

Joseph Monastra, Kristin's stepdad, read a statement on behalf of the victim's mother. He said the family is relieved the case has come to its resolution, "but our tears continue to flow and our hearts continue to ache."

Jeri Sanders, Kristin's maternal grandmother, said Kristin made the wrong decision that night and "paid with her life and ours."

"Travis Hill was allowed to continue to drive, attend college, visit with friends and have girlfriends, all the things she had taken away," Sanders said. "We hope that the time spent away from his family and friends ... will give him some insight as to how we feel every day not having Kristin with us."

Hill stood beside his attorney, Richard Pipkin, with his head staring down at a podium as the victim's family members spoke. He chose not to make any final statement before sentence was imposed.

Family and friends on both sides of the courtroom wept and hugged during Monday's hearing. Emotions were particularly high as Hill was placed into handcuffs and led out of the courtroom.