Drunk Driver Pleads Guilty to Vehicular Manslaughter of ‘Nene’ Frisbie

LIVINGSTON COUNTY – The woman who was charged for the death of Jeannine ‘Nene’ Frisbie in October 2015 pled guilty to all of her criminal charges Thursday morning.

Amy Patterson, 44, pled guilty to felony Vehicular Manslaughter in the First Degree, felony Assault in the Second Degree, felony Vehicular Assault in the First Degree, misdemeanor Driving While Intoxicated, and Failure to Keep Right, an infraction. Judge Dennis Cohen asked if the Frisbie family was OK with a sentence of 4 1/2 to 13 1/2 years in prison, 6 months less than the maximum.

“I think OK is the wrong word,” said Livingston County District Attorney Greg McCaffrey. “This charge is essentially murder. It’s one of the worst things that can happen to a family. They understand and get that the judge is knocking 6 months off of the sentence and saving going to trial.”

Patterson is being charged as a repeat violator of vehicle and traffic law based on a prior conviction for DWAI.

She is represented by Livingston County Assistant Public Defender Brittney Bennett.

The accident occurred on Oct. 2, 2015, when Patterson’s car allegedly crossed into oncoming traffic on 5&20 in Lima, striking the Frisbies’ vehicle head-on. Wayne Frisbie, 66, Jeannine Frisbie, 60, and Patterson were taken to the hospital where Jeannine was pronounced dead.

Family members and friends have followed this case closely, appearing together at Patterson’s court appearances.

The Frisbies operated a well-known local daycare out of their home. Friends and neighbors took in some of the children in their daycare after the accident.