By The Paper staff
MARION — Deangelo R. Evans, the man who caused the deaths of Manchester University students Nerad Mangai, Brook “BK” Dagnew and Kirubel Hailu in a 2016 traffic was sentenced to 38 1/2 years in prison on Monday, April 3.
Evans pleaded guilty Sept. 19, 2016. in Grant Superior Court to all eight charges against him, including three counts each of reckless homicide and operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death and one count of OWI resulting in serious bodily injury.
“Although the sentencing represents legal closure to this painful chapter in our lives, I know our emotional recovery continues.” MU President Dave McFaden said. “Please remember in your thoughts and prayers everyone whose hearts have been broken by this tragedy. And continue supporting members of our MU community as they navigate their personal journeys of grief and healing.
“Those in the Manchester family will best honor their memory by choosing to be their best selves, by leading principled, productive and compassionate lives that improve the human condition.”
A Peace Pole that now stands on the site of the new intercultural center is a tangible symbol of that commitment to the three students and a memorial in their honor. Its message, “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in eight languages, is accompanied by the inscriptions #3FlyHigh and #MUStrong.