A regular newsletter called Murderer’s Row is published by traffic prosecutors in Tennessee to showcase the faces of killers and emphasize the perils of impaired driving to the public.
During News 2’s special report on Drugged Driving, we had the opportunity to speak with a grieving mother from Dickson County who lost her son due to a drugged driver.
Living through it is every parent’s worst fear, and Carol Akers experienced it first-hand.
Akers expressed the enduring nature of her pain, stating that she and Jacob’s entire family will continue to feel its effects until her final days.
Tragically, the victim of a car crash was none other than Jacob, her cherished firstborn son.
Akers recalled the excruciating pain that kept her up at night for what seemed like weeks or even months. She described the feeling of lying down and desperately wanting to fall asleep and never wake up due to the unbearable pain she was feeling inside.
A conviction was made for drugged driving against the driver.
According to Akers, the blood test indicated the presence of hydrocodone, an opiate, and amphetamines, which were likely meth. The individual in question vehemently denied using heroin, even during his first two parole hearings. However, during his third parole hearing, he finally confessed to using heroin on the night in question.
Jacob’s mother, Akers, had to endure the loss of her beloved son while his fiancé was left without her life partner. The world suffered a great loss as well, as Jacob was a man who only wished to make positive changes.
After graduating from Lipscomb University in 2014, Jacob set his sights on attending medical school.
According to Akers, the late individual had a clear vision of dedicating his time to volunteer with Doctors Without Borders in third-world countries and extend help to people in need. He was highly committed to his goal, and nothing could hinder his determination.
On his way on highway 49 in Dickson County, a drugged driver stopped him, which unfortunately is a story that Prosecutor Linda Sharer is all too familiar with.
Sharer believes that responsibility is the key factor in the matter.
In Nashville, Sharer is a highly skilled traffic safety resource prosecutor who leads a team that assists law enforcement agencies across the state in handling drugged driving cases. In addition to this, Sharer’s team publishes a newsletter called “Murderer’s Row” that aims to raise public awareness about the devastating impact of drugged driving on people’s lives.
According to the latest state data, drugged driving was responsible for 34 out of the 240 fatalities on Tennessee roads during the first three months of this year.
Sharer emphasized the significance of recognizing that vehicular homicide is a serious crime, stating that it involves the unlawful killing of another person. He further explained that when referring to “murderer’s row” in their newsletter, they are specifically addressing cases of vehicular homicide by intoxication.
“I strive to convey the truth to as many individuals as possible with utmost accuracy and clarity,” is my ultimate goal and purpose.
In the hopes of preventing other families from experiencing the same pain she has, Akers has shared Jacob’s story. With Jacob’s killer having been released earlier this year after serving only seven years, she is concerned about what the future may hold.
Akers expressed her fear and concern about his release, stating, “It scares me that he’s out. I’m worried that someone else might have to go through what I did.”
Akers is advocating for stronger drugged driving laws. She believes that the law should consider impairment if a driver has any illegal drug in their system, similar to how blood alcohol levels are measured.
