Mom Fights Parole of Man Who Killed 4 Teens

A North Texas mother is fighting to keep a convicted drunken driver, who killed her daughter and three other students, behind bars.

On Dec. 19, 1998, Rickey Carter was driving along a two-lane road in Parker County when he hit a car with the teenagers inside head on.  Investigators found Carter had a blood alcohol level of .16.

The four teenagers were cheerleaders and basketball players at Brock High School School. Stacey Lee, 16, Mandi McWhorter, 15, and Whitney Welch, 16, died at the scene. A fourth girl, Lacey Osina, 17, died a short time later at a Fort Worth hospital.

Carter was convicted of intoxication manslaughter and, after agreeing to a plea bargain, was sentenced to 20 years behind bars.

Now after 8 years, Carter is up for parole.

Mandi McWhorter's mother, Lezlie Michael, along with her friends, and other family members have created a Web site, hoping others will send letters to Texas Parole Board to appeal Carter's parole.

Although Michael said she has forgiven Carter for killing her daughter, she believes he should fulfill his 20 year sentence.

"It's the fact that he killed four girls, you know, because the choice that he made, and that he should stay in prison for as long as they allow him to," Michael said.

Michael said her daughter would be turning 26 on Aug. 31.

"I still can't help but wonder what she would be like and what she would name her kids," Michael said.

Michael said only one thing gives her solace when she thinks of her daughter: a Guardian Angel Beenie Baby.

Mandi collected Beenie Babies and it was released right after she died. Each Beenie Baby has a day they were "born" and the Guardian Angel Beenie Baby was born on Aug. 31, 1998.

"Her birthday and the year that she died," Michael said.

Michael read the poem that came with the bear: "When you sleep, I'm always there. Don't be afraid, I am here. Watching over you with lots of love, your guardian angel from above."

"When I got this, I felt it was a gift from Mandi saying 'I'm okay and I'm watching over you,'" Michael said.

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