(WSVN) - She lost her only child to an accused drunk driver eight years ago, but time has only strengthened one mother’s resolve to find the woman who took her daughter away. The night team’s Patrick Fraser has more in tonight’s Out For Justice.
Martha Wright is on a mission to correct a wrong.
Martha Wright, Deborah’s Mother: “The Bible say fight; I gotta fight too. If I just sit and pray and didn’t fight, I wouldn’t have gotten this far.”
For eight years, Martha has asked several government agencies to go after a woman, enjoying life in Brazil. A woman accused of killing Martha’s daughter Deborah.
On August 21, 2008, Deborah Peterson was driving with two friends on I-95 in Palm Beach County. Police say they were rear-ended by this woman… Daniella Torres. The crash killed Deborah and one friend.
Police say Torres was drunk. She was arrested and charged with DUI manslaughter.
Martha Wright: “She need to be punished for what she have done. You don’t kill two people and wound another one and walk away.”
But she has been walking for eight years. After she was charged with killing Deborah, Torres was set free. She was ordered to submit to random drug tests. Records show she sometimes failed.
Martha Wright: “She was right here going in front of the judge.”
Then in 2012, just before the trial started, Torres flew to Brazil. The Palm Beach State Attorney’s Office had never confiscated her passport.
Martha Wright: “I blame the system. I’m sorry, but that’s who I blame.”
Since that day, Palm Beach County, the State of Florida and the U.S. Government have done nothing to try to return Torres to face trial. But Martha has never given up…
Martha Wright: “Since I’ve been going through this, my eyesight got dim. I’ve lost 60 pounds, I quit going out, except church.”
Martha asked Senator Bill Nelson to help her. His office said he couldn’t. Marco Rubio’s office did respond, and said they would forward her request to the FBI.
Martha Wright to Alcee Hastings: “Mr. Hasting, it’s been a long journey for me.”
Now Martha may have gotten a break after Congressman Alcee Hastings met with her.
Alcee Hastings to Martha Wright: “The wheels of justice sometimes are too slow.”
Brazil and the U.S. do not return wanted suspects to the other country, but after Hastings wrote to the Brazilian Embassy in Washington, they had a suggestion.
Alcee Hastings: “The United States and Brazil participate in a universal criminal treaty, and that treaty allows that Brazil could try her if an appropriate request is made.”
In other words, Torres could be put on trial in Brazil for the killing of Deborah Peterson here in South Florida if the U.S officially makes a request. And so Congressman Hastings is asking Secretary of State John Kerry to ask Brazil to put Torres on trial.
Alcee Hastings: “I’ll write to Secretary Kerry.”
International requests are complicated and move slowly, but after eight years of fighting, Martha sees a glimmer of hope.
Martha Wright: “I’m going to fight. And one day, God going to give me the victory!”
And for Martha Wright, a victory would be seeing Daniella Torres walk one final time into a jail cell. I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.
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