Northport Woman Gets Prison Time For Fatal 2021 Crash That Killed Young Mother

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court Judge Brad Almond heard from the four children and mother of the late Audra Rogers before handing down a prison sentence for the Northport woman accused of causing the fatal crash that killed the young mother.

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Rogers, who was also expecting a fifth child, was killed in the two-vehicle crash on July 5, 2021, on U.S. Highway 43, near John Swindle Road — a stretch of highway in northern Tuscaloosa County that has since be renamed in her honor.

The crash occurred about 6:13 p.m. near the 212 mile marker when Anna Dalrymple, traveling with her 11-month-old infant, was driving northbound in a 2007 Volvo XC90. Her vehicle crossed into the southbound lane, striking Rogers head-on with her four sons in the vehicle.

ALSO READ: Family Remembers Northport Mother Of Four Killed In Tragic Crash

Patch previously reported that Dalrymple, 39, entered an open-ended guilty plea on Sept. 30 to a single count of reckless murder and one count of first-degree assault, while the one charge of domestic violence assault and the other three first-degree assault charges were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

Judge Almond on Monday sentenced her to 20 years in prison with a five-year split sentence to serve on the charge of reckless murder, along with 10 years on the first-degree assault conviction with a two-year split sentence.

While the original sentences will run concurrently, the two split sentences of two and five years will run consecutively, meaning that Dalrymple will serve seven years in prison, day for day, unless she violates the terms of her sentencing. She will then be on probation for 15 years following her release.

Dalrymple had been free on bond since shortly after the fatal crash and was present in court Monday, walking with the assistance of a cane.

Rogers' family filled nearly half of the courtroom as Senior Assistant District Attorney Corey Seale rehashed the details of the deadly crash and Dalrymple's arrest.

Indeed, Seale pointed out that a toxicology screen following the crash found the following drugs in Dalrymple's system: alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), gabapentin and methadone, along with EDDP — a methadone metabolite.

"She was high [at the time of the crash]," Seale said. "She had no reason or business driving."

Seale also said that just minutes prior to the crash, a nearby gas station attendant noted that Dalrymple was clearly under the influence of something and called police, who issued a Be On The Lookout (BOLO) alert for her vehicle.

After her opening statement ahead of sentencing, Seale then stood by as Rogers' four sons — Roman, Reed, Rawley and Rhett — and mother, Katie Bramlett, each read pre-prepared remarks for Judge Almond.

Roman Pruitt, now 17 years old, said his mother wasn't able to see him get his driver's license and would also miss out on other milestones like his prom and choosing a college.

Roman was severely injured in the crash, breaking an arm and the growth plate in one of his legs, which he said prompted doctors to "break" the other growth plate.

"I will never grow any more in my legs," he told the court.

Reed Pruitt then followed his brother and mentioned his injuries in the 2021 crash, which included a broken femur, a concussion and ruptured spleen.

"I miss the fun birthdays with my mom and my brothers," Reed said, echoing a sentiment that all four of Rogers' children mentioned with respect to not getting to see each other as much as they had been used to when their mother was alive.

Rawley Rogers is 11 years old and said he has had to go to counseling because "sometimes, I still get mad and don't know why."

Rawley, who was seven at the time of the crash, fondly remembered his mother by recalling their trips to his favorite restaurant — Waffle House — and how "she always made me quesadillas because they're my favorite."

Rhett Rogers, 10, said that sometimes he can't remember what his mother's voice sounded like and has to refer to pictures to better remember her smiling face. Rhett also suffered severe injuries to his liver and lungs in the crash, along with a broken leg.

But it's the changes to how much he gets to see his brothers today that makes the pain of losing his mother that much harder to bear.

"I don't get to see them like I used to and it makes me sad," he said.

Bramlett fought through tears when she read her statement, telling the court that she is living "every parent's worst nightmare."

"I can't see the sunlight anymore, experience joy or even feel happiness," she said. "I'm joyless and can't remember what happiness feels like. ... Anna didn't just kill my daughter that day. She killed me, too. My heart just hasn't stopped beating yet."

Bramlett told the court and Tuscaloosa Patch following the sentencing hearing that the grief and strain have resulted in her health taking a sharp decline as she has been faced with numerous illnesses and infections.

"It makes you sick and physically, it just has taken such a toll on me — not just emotionally and mentally," she told Patch. "But I bet I've had 30 to 40 infections and sicknesses and illnesses.
And so, when the doctors started doing research they told me that especially with a mom and a daughter that are close, you generally lose 10 years off your life if you lose a child."

Public defender John Baird represented Dalrymple and told the court that his client had been addicted to heroin after a failed pregnancy before she sought help by way of a methadone clinic — a decision that ultimately saw her become hooked on the narcotic that was supposed to help her beat her dependency on heroin.

Baird said Dalrymple remembered nothing from the day of the fatal crash on Highway 43 and had shown remorse in the wake of the tragedy — a sentiment that Rogers' family says has no basis in fact.

Dalrymple then spoke on her own behalf and cried as she told the court that she wished she could swap places with the young mother she was convicted of killing.

"I just want to say I am so very sorry for this and can't imagine the pain this family is going through," she said. "I wish that I could take her place and I hate to see her children up here. I just wish this never happened and I'm so very sorry that I did this. I take full responsibility."

While the split sentence fell short of the justice that Bramlett desired, she was quick to express gratitude for the work of prosecutors, the District Attorney's office and others who stayed in close contact with the family throughout the proceedings.

"The DA's office has been incredible, just incredible," Bramlett told Patch. "They have treated me with the utmost respect and kept me abreast of every single thing. They've been incredible and [Victim Service Officer Shemeka Watkins] has been incredible."

When reflecting on the countless memories of her daughter as years of courtroom proceedings came to a close Monday afternoon, Bramlett recalled a legacy of love that is not lost on those who cared so much about Rogers.

"I know people say it all the time — she was a light that lit up a room," she said. "Her smile was huge and she would do anything for anybody. She loved everybody. Those kids were her whole life. After she had them, she worked nights because she didn’t want them to go to daycare. So she would work all night, take care of the kids, sleep and go back to work. She was like, 'Nobody's taking care of my kids but me.' She was a really cool parent."

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