MISSOULA — Daniel Grady changed his plea to guilty on Wednesday for the death of a University of Montana graduate in June of 2018.
Grady, 26 years old, is accused in the death of Rebecca Romero, 22, after he hit her with his car back on June 17, 2018.
Dispatch received a call of a possible fatal hit and run crash and when they arrived at the scene they found Romero deceased.
An investigation traced the accident back to Brady through the Chevy truck that he was driving and determined that he had been drinking at local bars throughout the night.
Grady’s blood was also tested by detectives and that test came back positive for cocaine, Valium and marijuana.
The change of plea was apart of plea deal that will request Grady serve 20 years with 10 suspended for felony negligent homicide and 10 years with 10 years suspended for failing to remain at an accident scene where person was killed.
Those sentences will run concurrently and while Romero’s family might understand they agreement it might not be what they want.
"Your honor, I think that they will address it in sentencing but the statement today was it's not exactly what they want but its acceptable to them, said Romero family attorney Paul Ryan.
"They understand Mrs. Williams has gone over everything with regard to different kind of cases and the facts in this case so they are aware of whats happening so they will address it more specifically at sentencing," he added.
Romero’s family plans on being at the sentencing hearing for Grady which is scheduled for October 8.
Romero had recently graduated from the University of Montana; she hailed from Stockton, California.
Romero’s father said that his daughter was set to enter basic training with the Montana National Guard.
"We have so few words to describe our feelings of having her life ended so needlessly," Romero said. "We are also saddened for the 26 year old driver and his passengers who lives are also changed forever. All we can say to them right now is this…We hope you have a chance to have daughters in your live’s. We hope you get the opportunity to raise them experiencing the joy, hurts, and love that goes into guiding them to be fantastic people who love the world around them. Only then, will you understand what we have lost with Rebecca’s death."
