After their surviving children begged them to come home, a couple who drove their family car into floodwater and killed three children was spared jail time.
Daniel Rawlings, 38, and Lacey Rawlings, 34, of Arizona, USA, deliberately drove their truck into an overflowing creek, killing two of their children and a niece.
On Thursday, Jan. 27, Daniel, who was driving, was sentenced to five years probation, while his mother, Lacey, was sentenced to four years.
After hearing the pleadings of their other surviving children who managed to flee the truck, judge Timothy Wright spared them from prison.
After ploughing their truck through an overflowing creek after Thanksgiving in 2019, despite signs and barricades warning cars not to cross Tonto Creek, the couple was prosecuted criminally.
The automobile was soon filled with water, allowing the couple and four of their children to flee, but their niece Austin, 5, and their children Colby, 5, and Willa, 6, were washed away before drowning.
As surviving children urge them to return home, a couple who drowned their children avoids going to jail.
According to the New York Post, Mr Rawlings pleaded guilty to homicide and child abuse charges, while Ms Rawlings pleaded guilty to child abuse charges.
The mother told the judge that her family is still reeling from the tragedy and asked with the judge to "keep our family together."
Nelly, 12, and Dallan Rawlings, 13, inquired of the judge about their parents' ability to stay at home and raise their children.
On Thursday, Nelly told Judge Wright, "I love everything about my parents."
"Without them, my life wouldn't be the same," Dallan remarked.
The judge believed that imprisoning the parents would be detrimental to their surviving children as well as the children's two cousins.
When making his decision, Wright said he found the pair to be regretful for their acts and highlighted their lack of criminal background.
"These four youngsters bear the hardships despite having no fault in this instance," Wright told the court.
The parents were said to have travelled through Tonto Creek with their children several times without incident. However, on the way home from a family member's residence, their military-style vehicle became stranded in floodwater.
The pair had miscalculated the possible dangers of accessing the creek, according to the Rawlings defence attorney.
Lauren Johnston, Austin's mother, said she had forgiven the couple following the incident that killed her daughter and requested the judge to keep them out of jail.
More than a hundred individuals were seen outside the courthouse holding signs that said "Rawlings Strong" in support of the family.
They were overjoyed to discover that the couple had been spared from prison.
In addition to their probation, Mr. and Mrs. Rawlings have been required to perform extensive community service.
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