The profound sadness over the loss of Chesterton Middle School teacher Lauren Thompson from a Nov. 8, 2022, crash continues to haunt her family and friends.
In a Porter Superior Courtroom packed with Thompson’s family and friends, Senior Judge David Matsey Wednesday sentenced Arthur H. Schmidt III, 44, of Portage to six years, with one year of it on probation for causing Thompson’s death.
Schmidt had agreed earlier to plead guilty to a charge of criminal recklessness, a Level 5 felony, which carried a maximum potential sentence of six years. Thompson, 24, was instantly killed in the crash that involved six vehicles at the intersection of Willowcreek and Lute roads in Portage.
Before the judge rendered the judgment, her mother, stepfather, mother-in-law and a best friend delivered emotional testimony about the hole that’s been left in their lives from Thompson’s death.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Hammer said that Schmidt’s actions left Thompson’s family and friends “shattered,” much like what the photos show of the crash scene.
Dawn Kissel, Lauren’s mother, said she has experienced “absolute hell” in the two years, three months and four days since her daughter’s death. She said she “cries every single day.”
“We have a life sentence because of you, Mr. Schmidt,” Kissel said.
Only months before on July 9, 2022, Kissel said her family experienced the joy of watching Lauren marry her boyfriend of 10 years, Tyler Thompson.
“You couldn’t have imagined a more perfect day,” Kissel said.
On the night of Nov. 8, Thompson was going to meet her family for dinner and had just pulled out onto Willowcreek Road. She was stopped at the traffic light when Schmidt’s vehicle, traveling at 107 mph, smashed into the back of her SUV.
Tyler Thompson went to the scene and discovered the love of his life was dead. He then had the sad task of telling his family.
“We had hopes and dreams. You killed those,” Kissel said as she looked at Schmidt.
Lauren Thompson was particularly close to her younger sisters, Josephine and Amelia, who are having a hard time dealing with the loss, Kissel said
There were scores of Chesterton Middle School students who were left bereft. Kissel said that one student confided to her that her daughter’s help “had saved her life.”
“She really had so much more to do,” Kissel said.
Alyssa Yanez had been friends with Lauren from the time they were 5 years old.
Their circle of friends stayed close all through the years.
Lauren was buried on the day that would have been her 25th birthday.
“Losing Lauren has been unbearable for all of us,” Yanez said. “She was a beaming light to anyone who knew her.”
Yanez cried, saying how she “feels the emptiness every day.”
She then questioned Schmidt on why he was going so fast on that day. She noted she heard that Schmidt had been suffering from mental health issues.
“Check yourself into a mental health facility instead of using it as an excuse for killing my best friend,” Yanez said.
Attorney Robert Varga apologized to the family on behalf of his client.
Schmidt also briefly and quietly stated to the family that he was “truly sorry.”
Varga explained that Schmidt had suffered a “psychotic break” the night of Nov. 8, 2022. He said that Schmidt “did not intend to hurt anyone” when he got behind the wheel of his vehicle.
Schmidt’s mental and physical health went through a downward spiral since 2015 when he suffered a poor result from a surgical procedure and is now on 17 medications, Varga said.
Varga asked the judge to consider having Schmidt be placed into PACT, a sentencing alternative program where he could receive counseling. Varga noted that Schmidt didn’t have any serious prior offenses.
Deputy Prosecutor Hammer objected, noting that Schmidt’s actions were “reckless.” Hammer said the Portage Police investigation found that Schmidt had been traveling at a high rate of speed, weaving in and out of cars and applied the brake before the crash.
“There was so much recklessness here that Lauren Thompson paid the price,” Hammer said.
Judge Matsey agreed with the prosecution and noted that there was evidence that Schmidt was going 122 mph at one point.
“The car did not drive itself,” Matsey said.
Schmidt was visibly upset and tearful as he was handcuffed and led out of the courtroom.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
