ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The family of Savannah Domann is speaking out after learning the man who killed the 26-year-old pregnant woman in a 2021 DWI crash may soon be released from prison.
Steven Ayala, the driver responsible for the crash on South Belt Highway, was sentenced in December 2022 to 15 years in prison — the maximum sentence for the charge. But just three years later, Ayala is now eligible for parole, with a hearing set for September 4 in Jefferson City.
For Savannah’s family, the early parole hearing is a devastating blow.
“Fifteen years didn’t feel like long enough, and the fact that he’s eligible for parole after only three years feels like a slap in the face,” said Morgan Domann, Savannah’s sister. “The judge did his job. He gave him the max. Now the system is just letting him out.”
A Life Taken Too Soon
Savannah and her unborn child died in a collision caused by Ayala, who was found to be driving while intoxicated at the time. The tragedy shattered the Domann family and left an unfillable void.
“We miss out on everything. We miss out on Savannah being a mom,” Morgan said. “I’ve had another child since, and she’s named after my sister. She misses out on meeting her aunt. There are a lot of holes.”
A Flawed System?
Under Missouri law, inmates become eligible for parole after serving 25% of their sentence. That means, despite the severity of the crime and the maximum sentence imposed, offenders like Ayala can apply for early release after just a few years behind bars.
“He took so much,” Morgan said. “No sentence will bring my sister back, but this just doesn’t feel like justice.”
Parole Hearing Set for September
The parole hearing will be held privately, with only immediate family members allowed to attend. The Domann family says they plan to be there, hoping their voice will help keep Ayala in prison.
“We just want him to stay where he is — not just for us, but for everyone else. He shouldn’t have the chance to hurt someone else,” Morgan added.
As the hearing date nears, the Domann family waits in painful anticipation, clinging to hope that the justice system will honor the life Savannah lived — and the life she never got to fully lead.
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