Man pleads to reckless homicide in DUI death, sentenced to five years in prison

Lexington, SC (Paul Kirby) – Scotty Medlin, 43, pled guilty last week to reckless homicide for the April 2018 death of Jessica H. Kirby, 36, of Lexington. She died in a wreck on North Lake Drive with Medlin behind the wheel one Sunday afternoon. Medlin’s trial was about to begin when he decided to plead guilty.

According to the SCHP, Medlin was driving recklessly in a pickup truck at the time of the crash. Their spokesman said that Medlin lost control of the truck, went into an oncoming lane and then struck another vehicle. The truck he was driving then overturned, ejecting Kirby and killing her. Medlin was under the influence at the time and had sped away from a Lexington bar after fighting with Kirby before the crash. Lexington police officers were responding to the report of the altercation, but were simply unable to get to the bar before Medlin fled with Kirby in his truck. Kirby’s friends and family said that Medlin and Kirby had been a couple for years, but he often verbally and physically abused her. They also said he was known to abuse intoxicants on a regular basis.

Medlin was sentenced to five years in prison followed by five years’ probation. He was transported to the SC Department of Corrections where he immediately began serving his sentence.