SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. – A Sumter County jury delivered a guilty verdict late Thursday evening in the trial of 24-year-old Jasmine Daebreon Grover. Grover was found guilty of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Manslaughter in connection with a fatal vehicle incident on February 9, 2020, that resulted in the death of 21-year-old Alexes Olivia Matthews.
In addition to the DUI Manslaughter conviction, Grover was also found guilty of Driving Under the Influence with Serious Bodily Injury, Driving Under the Influence Causing Injury, Driving Under the Influence with Property Damage, and Possession of Cannabis.
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The tragic incident occurred on County Road 476 when Grover, then 19 years old, lost control of the vehicle she was driving while under the influence. The vehicle, carrying three passengers including Matthews, veered off the road. Grover’s attempt to regain control led to overcorrection, causing the vehicle to cross back across the road, leave the roadway entirely, and crash into a tree.
The impact ejected Matthews and caused the vehicle to roll on top of her, resulting in her death at the scene.
Oral Matthews, the victim’s father, expressed the profound grief and lasting impact of his daughter’s death.
“What happened to Alexes wasn’t an accident. It was a choice – a conscious, selfish, irreversible choice to drive under the influence. That decision didn’t just end a life – it shattered a family,” stated Oral Matthews, the victim’s father.
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He poignantly described the ongoing pain and the difficult task of explaining the loss to Matthews’ two children. “You were supposed to be her friend. Friends protect each other. Friends look out for one another. But you made a choice that night. Because of that choice, my daughter is gone. Forever.”
The Florida Highway Patrol conducted a comprehensive investigation into the traffic homicide. Testimony from the two surviving passengers confirmed Grover was driving at the time of the crash. First responders at the scene observed indicators of impairment in Grover, including bloodshot watery eyes, dilated pupils, slurred speech, and a thick tongue. A significant amount of cannabis was also discovered in her waistband.
Further investigation revealed the presence of both cannabis and Etizolam, a controlled substance, in Grover’s system at the time of the crash, based on a blood draw. This scientific evidence, coupled with eyewitness accounts and expert testimony from law enforcement and medical professionals, was presented during the trial.
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Mercedes Matthews, the victim’s sister, shared the immense void left by her sister’s passing.
“She (Alexes) was vibrant, full of love, and had her whole future ahead of her. She had two beautiful sons, who now have to grow up without their mother. No child should ever have to ask why their mommy isn’t coming home. There are absolutely no words that can express the pain I have endured on and since February 9, 2020,” she said. “I hope that when this court makes its decision, it fully considers the devastating impact of this loss. We are not just statistics or names in a report – we are real people, grieving someone we loved deeply.”
Following the verdict, Grover was remanded into custody to await her sentencing hearing. The case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Joseph Church and Sonny McCathran.
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