Bishopville Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison
A Bishopville man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty on 2 counts of negligent homicide under the influence. Judge Thomas Groton has sentenced 35 year Jon Gray to 10 years on the first count and 5 years on the second count consecutively, with 5 years suspended and 3 years of supervised probation upon release. Gray was charged after a head-on crash on Whaleyville Road near Shavox Church Road in June of 2020 that left two people dead and two injured. Gray was found unresponsive in his vehicle – and blood tests showed he was DUI at the time of the crash.
Investigation and accident reconstruction revealed that a Nissan Altima driven by Jon Gray had been traveling east on Whaleyville Road at a high rate of speed when he crossed the center line and struck a Kia Sorento driven by Claudeline Saintil. Deputies located 2 victims inside the Kia, one identified as Duope Fenelon, entrapped in the right front passenger seat, and one identified as Marc Louis, who was found deceased. Fenelon was extricated from the vehicle by first responders and transported by helicopter to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. 2 female passengers of the Kia were also located outside the vehicle and were transported by ambulance to the hospital. Gray was found unresponsive inside the Nissan and was also transported by ambulance to the hospital. Blood samples tested by the Maryland State Police Forensic Services Division revealed Gray’s blood alcohol content at the time of the collision was .13 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters, well over the legal limit.
Worcester County State’s Attorney Kris Heiser thanked the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, the
Maryland State Police, Showell and Bishopville Fire Departments, Ocean Pines and Willards EMS, and all
first responders who assisted on scene with this investigation.
