A Missouri woman who was pardoned by Trump for her role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot is now heading to prison for a deadly drunk driving crash. Emily Hernandez, 23, was sentenced to 10 years behind bars for causing a wrong-way collision that killed a woman and left her husband seriously injured.
Hernandez first made headlines when she was captured on video inside the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, holding a stolen, broken nameplate belonging to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She later pleaded guilty to her involvement in the riot and served 30 days in federal prison before receiving a presidential pardon from Trump.
On January 5, 2022, she drove the wrong way on Interstate 44 for several miles while intoxicated, with a blood alcohol level of .125, before crashing into the vehicle of Victoria and Ryan Wilson. The couple had just left dinner celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary. Victoria Wilson, 32, was killed, and Ryan suffered serious injuries. The couple’s two children, now 18 and 13, were left without a mother.
In court, Hernandez took responsibility for her actions, calling them “ungodly” and saying she prays for the Wilson family daily. “I feel like it should not have been her, it should have been me. She had a family, and I was lost at the time,” she said.
Her defense team argued for a reduced sentence of just 120 days with parole, highlighting that Hernandez had no prior criminal history before Jan. 6 and had been undergoing mental health treatment and counseling since the crash. They also cited the overwhelming hate mail and threats she received after the riot and the accident.
However, the court rejected the request, sentencing Hernandez to 10 years for the DWI causing death and seven years for the DWI causing serious injury, to be served concurrently.
Following the sentencing, Victoria Wilson’s family spoke out, expressing their pain and heartbreak.
“Nothing will bring her back. We have an empty hole in my heart that will always be there,” said Victoria’s mother, Tonie Donaldson. “It was some relief to be able to turn and look her in her eyes and tell her how much harm she had really done to us… that’s a choice she made, and she has to live with it.”
Wilson’s niece, Desirae Raymo, shared how deeply their family has been affected. “She (Emily) chose her actions that night, and she chose wrong over and over and over again,” Raymo said. “I don’t feel any amount of time she will serve will bring her back. It won’t rectify her actions. I hope she can change and be a better person.”
While there is no set parole hearing date, Victoria’s family has vowed to be present at every hearing moving forward to ensure Hernandez is held accountable.
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