Family Of UCO Student Killed In Wrong-Way Crash Works To Spark Positive Change

The trial for a man accused of drunk driving and murder was pushed back until December. 

Malcolm Penney is accused of hitting and killing UCO student Marissa Murrow in October 2020. 

The Murrow family said they feel like this crash was completely preventable.

In 2018, Penney pleaded guilty to his fourth DUI in just seven years.

His previous offenses spanned several states including Oklahoma and Kansas. At the time of the crash, he was serving a deferred sentence out of Louisiana.

Even though the criminal proceedings are taking months, the family is meeting with lawmakers and businesses hoping to spark change.

"When you think abut that fact that it didn't have to happen something has to be done," said Marissa Murrow's mom Kristy Murrow.

Marissa Murrow's parents, Kristy and Jeff Murrow, are taking action. They've filed a civil suit against multiple parties and businesses including Penney, his ex-wife and a local wedding venue called The Springs.

According to court documents, the car Penney was driving was registered to Amanda Penney and Malcolm Penney admitted to drinking and being at the venue.

Recently, a judge ruled the venue and others could not be dismissed from the lawsuit. The Murrows' attorney said the next few months will be spent doing discovery.

In the meantime, the Murrow family is trying to create positive change.

Kristy and Jeff Murrow are sitting down with other local wedding venue owners like Bruce and Stephanie Temple.

The pair at the Rustic Rose Barn have been sharing Marissa Murrow's story and try hard to prevent people from drinking and driving.

"It's a battle for every venue," said Bruce Temple. "We know a bunch of venue owners, and there's not a good answer for it."

The Murrows are taking ideas for potential changes to state lawmakers.

"It's sad to realize the industrty, as large as it is, there's not more guidelines in place to even the playing field," said Kristy Murrow.

She said they don't want to limit anything or crash anyone's party, but they just want drivers everywhere to be safe.

The Murrows welcome meeting with other venues and hearing more suggestions.

"We are not in the wedding industry," said Kristy Murrow. "We do not know and we don't want to make life hard. We just want to make it safe."

News 9 did reach out to the attorney representing The Springs but did not hear back.

Penney retained a new attorney and because of this, the jury trial was pushed back to Dec. 6.

The new attorney said he wanted to go over the case before considering a comment.