The woman who admitted to fatally stabbing another woman during an alcohol-fueled fight will serve at least eight years in prison.
Stephanie N. Bozarth, now 28, had been charged originally with first degree murder in the Aug. 26, 2011 death of Tabitha Russell, a 27-year-old neighbor of Bozarth’s in the Windy Hill Trailer Park in the Grove area of James City County. Bozarth pleaded guilty on Feb. 27 to a charge of involuntary manslaughter.
Williamsburg James City Circuit Court Judge Michael McGinty sentenced Bozarth to 10 years in prison, with two years suspended. He ordered that her time be served in a therapeutic community in the Virginia Corrections system, a nod to the progress Bozarth has made over the past 21 months while locked up in the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail.
Bozarth addressed the court, reading from a statement she’d prepared. “I take full responsibility and apologize to the family,” she said. Bozarth described a drunken fight that had begun with two men and quickly “got out of control.”
Commonwealth’s Attorney Nate Green said the fight started between the two men, then escalated and involved Bozarth and Russell. The women fought until Bozarth got away and ran into her home, picked up a knife and returned outside where Russell “re-engaged” in the fight.
Bozarth, when she addressed the court, said Russell had “gotten the best of me” during the fight. When she returned outside with the knife, Russell “came at me and ran straight at the knife.”
Russell, who suffered a fatal stab wound to the neck, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Bozarth said it had taken her 18 months to admit to what had happened “because I was afraid of what might happen. Today I am happier because I told the truth.”
Since Russell’s death and her subsequent arrest, Bozarth has been held at the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail. When she arrived, Bozarth had a seventh grade education, a string of misdemeanor convictions and a felony charge that would eventually result in a conviction and losing custody of her son. Separated from a chaotic homelife that included drug, alcohol and sexual abuse, Bozarth’s attorney Fernando Groene said she has found structure that allows her to accomplish what earlier circumstances did not: a GED, daily Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, Bible study and a job four hours a day, seven days a week, as a jail trustee.
McGinty noted the positive changes Bozarth has made while in jail awaiting her trial, and said he also took into consideration “the hand you were dealt with in life.” Still, he said, “There’s no question in the court’s mind if you hadn’t gotten that knife …. That’s why Miss Russell is not here today.”
Russell’s mother testified also, tearfully describing the family’s loss and saying the sentencing guideline of a maximum of 10 years – a guideline McGinty could have ignored – was not enough time to serve. “There’s no bringing my baby back,” she said.
McGinty also directed Bozarth to pay $5,000 to the Victim’s Injury Compensation fund, which will go to Russell’s family for funeral costs.
