Teen’s stepfather apologizes for infant’s death

By Chris Dumond

Published: July 10, 2008

A week after a judge fined a teenager $500 in connection with the death of a Madison Heights toddler, her stepfather has issued a public statement of apology to the boy’s family on her behalf.

The statement — from Chris Murphy of Madison Heights, stepfather to Kaylie Silby — also strongly defends the teen’s actions in the hours following the January fatality.

“I understand that this statement is long overdue,” Murphy wrote, “but up to this point, we have been under the instruction of our attorney and the state police not to give any statements.”

Silby, 19, was found guilty July 1 of improper driving. According to the evidence presented at her trial, she hit 2-year-old Omarion Rose on Seminole Drive on Jan. 14 as she was on her way to pick up her boyfriend that morning.

The boy, Amherst County Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Maddox said in an earlier interview, had wandered away from his parents’ home in a moment of confusion.

The statement apologizes to the Rose family, and to Omarion’s mother in particular.

“No one could ever imagine the pain that they are going through,” it says. “Nothing could ever be done to fill the void… .”

During the hearing, Silby testified she was driving on Seminole Drive, under the speed limit, when her cell phone rang. She said the road ahead was clear when she looked down to find the phone. As she looked down, she felt what she thought was a pothole, she testified.

When she checked her mirrors, she saw nothing and went on.

In the family’s statement, Murphy notes Silby “has done everything she is supposed to do,” and that her family called police that day after seeing a news report about the incident.

“She stepped forward when many people would not have,” Murphy wrote.

The statement also noted that a re-creation of the accident showed that Silby could not have seen the boy in her mirrors, which was confirmed by police testimony at her trial.

In the wake of public outcry over the sentence, Maddox said Thursday that she doesn’t believe Silby set out to hit a child that morning. She also verified that the teen notified police the same day as the incident.

Silby was charged with reckless driving on March 12, after a lengthy investigation that included extensive forensic testing.

For those who wonder why Silby was not charged with a more serious crime than reckless driving, Maddox pointed out that the judge in the case, after hearing three hours of evidence, acquitted Silby of even reckless driving.

“It’s my job as commonwealth’s attorney to look at all the evidence and all the facts and to charge what the law allows,” she said. “A reckless driving (charge) was the highest charge that we could make based on the evidence in the case.

“The judge after listening to a lot of testimony thought it didn’t rise to the level of reckless (driving) and convicted her of improper (driving).

“Charging any greater charge clearly would not have been appropriate.”

Rose’s family could not be reached for comment.

Public apology letter written by Kaylie Silby’s stepfather

I would like to begin by saying that on behalf of not only Kaylie but also the rest of our family, our sincere condolences and prayers go out to the Rose family and Mrs. Hughes in particular. We are sorry for the loss of Omarion. No one could ever imagine the pain that they are going through. Nothing could ever be done to fill the void; we fully understand that and sympathize with the family. I understand that this statement is long overdue, but up to this point, we have been under the instruction of our attorney and the State Police not to give any statements.

With that being said, there have been many people stating that Kaylie is a cold-blooded killer. This could not be further from the truth. No one would knowingly hit a child and just leave him or her to die, no one. The simple fact of the matter is anyone heading down Seminole Drive that morning would have been subject to hitting Omarion. Everyone who drives at one point or another has taken their eyes off the road and many drivers whether they admit it or not have felt a bump in the road and not stopped. Beyond that, the State Police did a re-creation of the accident and confirmed that Kaylie could not have seen Omarion in her mirrors. If you do not see anything after you feel a bump in the road would you stop? Again, most people wouldn’t.

From the time Kaylie thought she might have been the one to hit Omarion she has done everything she is supposed to do. Contrary to what some media outlets have reported, it was not days before she came forward, and she was never on the run, it was the same day, right around lunchtime. We relinquished the vehicle to the State Police at the same time; it was never washed or doctored in any way. She did not move the car at any time once she returned to the house that morning. She stepped forward when many people would not have.

Also, contrary to what some may say, Kaylie is extremely remorseful. She can hardly look at her own infant son without breaking down. She is withdrawn, depressed and very solemn. Trust me — she is sorry this accident ever occurred. This is something that she will have to deal with everyday for the rest of her life.

Let me finish by saying: this is a terrible accident that no one should ever have to endure. Many lives have been ruined by these events. Please don’t judge someone for an accident that anyone of us could have very well been involved in. And again, to the Rose family and Mrs. Hughes, we do apologize for the loss of Omarion.

On behalf of Kaylie and our family, thank you for your time.

— Chris Murphy