Two grieving Long Island families attended the sentencing Monday of the former college administrator who killed two men in a crash on the Meadowbrook Parkway two years ago, but walked away with an empty feeling.
Debbie Fratello, the daughter of one of the victims, had asked that her father's killer be put in jail for a long time; instead, former Suffolk Community College associate dean Robert Beodeker was sentenced to a term of 4 to 12 years.
He admitted he was driving to school high on crystal meth when his pickup truck slammed into a car that had broken down on the shoulder of the Meadowbrook Parkway in March 2013.
Fratello's 76-year-old father John Elder, and the 65-year-old friend who came to help him, Edward Ross, were both killed.
"I just don't think this is fair," said victim Edward Ross' son, also named Edward.
Ross said he's had trouble explaining the sentence to his own children.
"How do I explain that he was killed by a methhead who could be on the streets in four years and kill then? How's that justice?" he said.
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Beodeker's sentence is a product of a plea agreement with prosecutors. He could have faced a maximum of 25 years in prison.
Nassau Assistant District Attorney Maureen McCormick said, "Vehicular crimes suffer from penalties that never seem to match the harm that's caused."
Beodeker did apologize in court, saying to the victims' families: "I know it haunts you. It haunts me. I am truly sorry."
But the families didn't buy it.
"He has no remorse," said Ross. "He should spend the rest of his life in prison."
Fratello said: "It's not going to bring my dad back. I just want my dad back."
