A drunk Michigan driver who admitted to killing a pastor in a car crash was seen apologizing to the victim’s family during his sentencing.
Marcel D. McMillan, 30, pleaded no contest to driving while intoxicated and causing the death of Dean Elliott, 63, after crashing into him on US-131 near Burton Street in April 2023.
Elliott, who had pastored in many parishes in West Michigan, succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
In front of Elliott’s devastated family in court, McMillan apologized for his actions – and said that ‘it’s not purposely done’ because he ‘didn’t mean to do it.’
During the killer’s sentencing, Elliot’s crying wife Brenda recounted how the events of the fateful day unfolded for her.
She tearfully told court: ‘Curious, I opened up my news app to see if there was a backup on the highway, only to read the breaking news the expressway was closed due to a crash that killed someone because of a wrong-way driver.
‘I headed toward the crash scene in an effort to reach my husband.
‘During that time, I contacted the Kent County Deputy Sheriff. I tearfully gave the deputy the information from the news report, said Dean’s car information and asked if they would find out if my husband was involved in the crash.
‘I also shared my location, and was advised to find a place to park after I exited the expressway.
‘I sent a text to the deputy after I parked, begging to know if Dean was the one who had died. I waited another torturous 10 minutes until the Michigan State Police car pulled in, when the trooper and I got out of our cars.
‘It was like a very tragic and sad movie, but it was my reality.’
Afterwards, both the victim’s children, Nathan and Lauren Elliott, shared how their life has been since the tragedy.
‘My wedding, New Year’s Eve, 2023 a seat with a sign, instead of having my father supporting me through the entire wedding, giving a speech at the rehearsal dinner. Spending time with me on the best day, he was replaced by the memory,’ said Nathan.
Lauren also told onlookers: ‘Since that day, I have had a decreased ability to focus, with an impaired ability to maintain multiple tasks at once, and having even more depleted emotional energy for my husband, family friends, due to using it to serve my community.’
As the family shared their remorse, McMillan could also be seen getting emotional as he pleaded no contest to the charges of operating while intoxicated causing death.
The rash driver also began to apologize for what had happened and said he did not try to harm the family on purpose – despite being a habitual offender.
‘I just want to apologize to the family, because it’s not purposely done. I know I got to put you guys get through a lot. I didn’t mean to do it. I’m sorry,’ he told Elliott’s family.
After hearing McMillan’s apology, Brenda stepped forward and told him that he was forgiven but his ‘actions have consequences that require justice’.
‘Marcel, I have forgiven you, however your actions have consequences that require justice and society deserves protection from your continued dangerous and illegal choices. I truly hope during that time, Mr. McMillan will choose to change the direction of his life,’ she said.
Due to the killer’s record of being a habitual felony offender, he received a maximum sentence of 22 and half years in prison.