ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — A Geneseo woman who pleaded guilty to drunk driving and killing Cecilia Nache in 2021 has been sentenced to eight years in prison.
37-year-old Brittany Griswold was given the sentence by Judge Peter Church in Rock Island County court, after Nache's mother and sisters gave impact statements.
"It's been two years since we've been in this fight because of the absence of my daughter, because of the irresponsibility of this person who took her life and who destroyed my family," mother Emilia Nache said, speaking to the court in Spanish with an interpreter translating into English.
Cecilia's sister Elizabeth Nache talked about the emotional toll of the tragedy. "My mom now worries more than she did before and becomes severely depressed. My dad carries his sadness and is hurting," she said while fighting back tears.
Another sister, Blanca Leal, gave her own statement but also read the words of Cecilia's daughter. "I have lost my sense of peace. My anxiety reaches all time highs because I struggle with the idea of losing people at any moment," she said while looking at Griswold.
Griswold herself gave an apology to the family. She gave the statement from the defendant's table instead of the witness stand. "I do not remember anything, and I have no idea what actually happened. The only thing that I do know is that night, on August 7th, 2021, I acted in ways in which I have never done before in my entire life, and I am so deeply sorry and will forever be filled with regret," she said.
Back on Nov. 27, 2023, Griswold pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated DUI, with her other charges being dropped. At the time, lawyers on both sides tentatively agreed to an eight-year prison sentence.
However, at the Monday, April 1 sentence hearing, Griswold's attorney Aaron Dyer asked for a lighter sentence — either probation or 3 years in prison. "Ms. Griswold will be leaving behind a 13, a nine, and an eight-year old, right in the time when she's taking care of them. They do have a father that is alive and will have to take care of them, but they've only known of him every other weekend," Dyer said.
Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer Gardner reminded the judge that a medical test the night of the crash showed Griswold's blood alcohol level to be at least double the legal limit. "I bring this to the court's attention because we do have letters from the defendant's side of the family that place into some sort of conspiracy theory, that somehow there was anything else but the defendant's actions that caused what happened that day. It was 100% Ms. Griswold," she said.
Ultimately, Judge Church sentenced Griswold to eight years in prison. "Balancing factors in mitigation and factors in aggravation, considering the nature of the offense, the sentencing range which is appropriate is right in the middle of the sentencing range prescribed by the Illinois state legislature, which if we were right in the middle, would be eight and a half years. The cap's eight," he said.
After the proceedings, News 8 spoke with Elizabeth Nache and Blanca Leil outside the Rock Island County Courthouse on their reaction to the sentencing. "I think the next step for our healing, is what really comes to our mind, and thinking that there has been a consequence. With every action, there's good and negative, and we all have to pay the consequences of our actions, good or bad," Leil said.
Griswold can file an appeal for the sentence, but if it stands, she must serve at least 85% of it before she is eligible for parole.
August 2021 crash
Griswold was charged back in 2021 after driving drunk in August of that year, killing Cecilia Nache in a head-on crash near a Rock Island campground. Court proceedings were repeatedly delayed through continuations and motions to dismiss.
Additionally, Griswold had remained out on recognizance bond rather than bail. Prior to sentencing, she hadn't served any jail time in relation to the case.
When asked about the significance of setting the sentencing date, Nache's sister Blanca Leil explained, "holding people accountable, so they can take responsibility for what they have done, which has impacted not just myself, but my whole family, and [Cecilia's] children, and the community."
"I think once it's all said and done, then it's about the facts, and I'm not sure if it's comforting or not — I think only time will tell," sister Elizabeth Nache said.
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