Mother Seeks Clemency For Accused Drunk Driver Who Killed Her Son

OREGON CITY, OR — Jennifer Sanders, the woman whose allegedly drunk boyfriend crashed a car that carried Sanders and her three children, killing one of her twin sons, Derick Bedwell, has filed a request with a Clackamas County court to lift the currently-imposed no-contact order between her family and her boyfriend.

Shane Richard Bremer, 34, remains in Clackamas County Jail on manslaughter, assault and DUII charges stemming from the June 15 incident that also injured Sanders, her 10-year-old daughter, Rebecca Sanders, and her surviving 6-year-old son, Dylan Bedwell.

1 Child Killed, 2 Others Hurt In Drunk Driving Crash

In Sanders' request, she identifies herself as Jennifer Bedwell and describes Bremer as "the only real dad my kids have known for a long time." Sanders explains that for the family's healing process, she and her surviving children need to be able to communicate with Bremer, and that after losing their brother they shouldn't be made to lose Bremer as well.

"Part of the healing process is having the man they have known as dad to be able to lean on," she wrote in her request. "For me, I need the one support I have had to help me get through the loss of my son. Shane is the only person who understands right now what I am going through."

Since the fatal crash occurred and the story made its rounds through various news outlets across the metro region, comments from the community have been divided. Many commenters, however, are united on at least one front: that Sanders also face charges for her role in the crash.

While law enforcement has kept quiet many details about the wreck, rumors and speculation are rampant on social media.

At this time, however, it's officially unclear whether Sanders knew Bremer was too intoxicated to drive or whether she was complicit in the act. Also being questioned is whether Sanders allowed Derick to ride unrestrained on her lap prior to the fatal crash — a detail police have not confirmed.

During Bremer's court appearance in Clackamas County on Monday Sanders was present, advocating on Bremer's behalf for the charges against him to be dropped, according to Jena Miller, the sister of the twin boys' natural father, Derick Bedwell.

"My brother is destroyed by this tragedy," Miller told Patch. "(He) is not perfect but those kids love him and he loves them … He is going for full custody (of Dylan and Rebecca) … (but) we are actually really worried about what will happen to her if Derick can’t get custody of her but does get custody of Dylan.

"Derick is not (Rebecca's) biological father," she continued. "She doesn’t have contact with her biological father. But Derick has raised her since she was 3 and he is the only dad she has known … until Shane."

Since the tragic crash, the Bedwell family has advocated for custody on Derick's behalf and is actively fundraising to cover the costs of little Derick's funeral services. But Miller knows all of this — the crash, the fight for custody, the fundraiser — could have been avoided.

"It seems like it takes a tragedy to get anything accomplished sometimes," Miller said. "I am a social worker and a mandatory reporter and I reported Jen and Shane to DHS last month for, among other concerns, their constant drinking with the kids. I’m more than devastated by this because there are so many ways it could have been prevented."

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