Marissa Burke: Texas woman suffering from brain cancer bids goodbye to 'beautiful' daughter killed by drunk driver
HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS: A Texas mother who is fighting for her life in a hospital bed had to say goodbye to her daughter over the phone after she was fatally injured by a pick-up truck driven by a "reformed" alcoholic.
Marissa Burke, 17, was walking home from school when she was hit by Leland Smith, 55, on November 14 at Georgia Avenue in Deer Park, Texas.
Leland Smith who claimed to be 'reformed' is a 'serial' offender running a Christian recovery ministry
Burke was struck by a pick-up truck driven by Smith, 55, a serial offender who runs a Christian recovery ministry and claims to have overcome his own addiction problems, Daily Mail reports.
He failed a breath test at the scene and was charged with felony murder. He has a history of DUI and other crimes, including assault, burglary, theft, and resisting arrest.
Smith had DUIs in 2008 and 2009, injuring an old person. He received 30 days and two years for the crime. He assaulted someone in 2017 and received another 30 days.
The charges were upgraded to felony murder. He is being held at Harris County Jail on a $100,000 bond. His next court appearance is on November 27.
However, Smith reportedly claimed to be a reformed character in his LinkedIn profile, striving to help others achieve what he had.
"I have overcome my own issues with drug addiction and alcoholism, and I enjoy using my experience to help others do the same," he wrote.
"I have worked and served in the nonprofit sector since 2002. I love helping individuals and organizations achieve their missional goals," he added. "My prayer is that in some small way, I may be of help to you too," he continued.
Gloria Burke could only speak to her daughter Marissa Burke on speaker phone
Marissa’s mother Gloria, who is undergoing treatment for brain cancer, was able to "discharge from the hospital...to see her daughter on least time."
She managed to spend a day by her side before she was taken back to her hospital but via speakerphone, the outlet reported.
She could only hear her daughter’s voice on speakerphone as her condition worsened with doctors giving her only a "1% survival chance."
However, she had to remain on life support given her young age and after the timeline was met and all scans and tests were done, [doctors] pulled the breathing tube and she went very peacefully," Marissa’s stepfather Ryan Herring said.
'She was so brave. She didn’t move, she didn’t flinch,' said Marissa Burke's stepfather Ryan Herring
Haerring further shared about Marissa, saying, "She was so brave. She didn’t move, she didn’t flinch, it only took about five minutes, and she was ready to go – we all knew it."
Gloria was also heartbroken and devastated by the loss of her daughter, said to be a caring and mature young lady with a bright future ahead of her. Gloria, according to Herring, was readmitted to the hospital. He said that Marissa's sister had been witness to the accident.
Bailey Burke had witnessed her accident (KTRK)
The vehicle he said, "went into the oncoming lane of traffic, ran up the curb and onto the sidewalk. Pinning her underneath his truck and against a pole."
Marissa Burke's family expresses anger and grief over the senseless act of the driver
Herring who, as per the report has been in addiction recovery for 12 years, expressed his anger and grief over the tragic loss of his stepdaughter. "For a man to take an innocent life so tragically and so violently like that, I cannot express how angry I am," he said.
"There’s nothing we can do to bring Marissa back but there’s something we can do to ruin his life," added Marissa’s sister Bailey.
Marissa had plans to go to college after graduating and pursue a career as an occupational therapist, inspired by her mother’s struggle with cancer.
Marissa was a "beautiful young lady with a wonderful sense of humor" by Herring. "She was always full of life and love for her friends and family," the family wrote, adding "She was very mature and intelligent for her age, oftentimes seeing the world with adult eyes."