'I should have gone back': Tearful teen who fled after mowing down two sisters hiding in a pile of leaves reacts to 3-year probation... but now she could be DEPORTED

  • Cinthya Garcia-Cisneros was sentenced Friday to 3 years probation in the killing of Anna Dieter-Eckerdt, 6, and her step-sister Abigail Robinson, 11
  • Garcia-Cisneros was told she'd hit the two girls shortly after the October 20 but failed to turn herself in. Authorities found her the next day
  • Garcia-Cisneros is in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and her immigration status will now be re-evaluated
  • 'Cinthya, I forgive you,' said the victims' weeping mother Susan Dieter-Robinson

By Daily Mail Reporter

Published: 16:14 EST, 3 February 2014 | Updated: 17:50 EST, 3 February 2014


The Oregon teen convicted of felony hit-and-run for mowing down and killing 6- and 11-year-old stepsisters in October was sentenced Friday to three years probation in an incredibly emotional court hearing.

A tormented Cinthya Garcia-Cisneros addressed the parents of Anna Dieter-Eckerdt and Abigail Robinson in a Washington County courtroom last week and was no doubt deeply relieved when Anna's mother tearfully offered her forgiveness.

'I should have gone back. I should have thought about you guys,' the weeping teen confessed to Susan Dieter-Robinson and her husband, Abigail's father Tom Robinson.

Teen weeps as she faces three years in prison after being found guilty of hit-and-run after accidentally running over and killing two young girls as they hid in pile of leaves Cinthya Garcia-Cisneros could be sentenced to anything from prison to probation Anna Dieter-Eckerdt, 6, was pronounced dead at the scene; Abigail Robinson, 11, was airlifted to a hospital where she died more than 24 hours later Garcia-Cisneros was told she'd hit the two girls shortly after it happened Oregon requires those involved in an accident to assist authorities after it happens Garcia-Cisneros' boyfriend pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution and was sentenced to 13 months in prison
Teen weeps as she faces three years in prison after being found guilty of hit-and-run after accidentally running over and killing two young girls as they hid in pile of leaves Cinthya Garcia-Cisneros could be sentenced to anything from prison to probation Anna Dieter-Eckerdt, 6, was pronounced dead at the scene; Abigail Robinson, 11, was airlifted to a hospital where she died more than 24 hours later Garcia-Cisneros was told she'd hit the two girls shortly after it happened Oregon requires those involved in an accident to assist authorities after it happens Garcia-Cisneros' boyfriend pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution and was sentenced to 13 months in prison

'I should have gone back': At her sentencing on Friday, Cinthya Garcia-Cisneros (left) tearfully apologized to Susan Dieter-Robinson (right at center) for mowing over her daughter Anna (right at left) and stepdaughter Abigail (right at right) in October as they hid beneath a pile of leaves

Even the judge noted Garcia-Cisneros will likely be haunted by what she's done for life, but today she faces more pressing issues since her undocumented immigrant status could mean she'll be deported in light of her crimes despite being a beneficiary of the DREAM Act.

According to the Oregonian, Judge Rick Knapp's decision to spare Garcia-Cisneros jail time was based on the words of Anna and Abigail's parents.

'I remembering thinking how horrible you would feel when you realized you hit two young girls,' said Susan Dieter-Robinson, mother to Anna and stepmother to Abigail. 'You were one block away, I’m sure, scared.'

Another chance: The girls' parents, Tom Robinson and Susan Dieter-Robinson, ioffered their forgiveness to Garcia-Cisneros for killing Abigail, left, and Anna, right

Another chance: The girls' parents, Tom Robinson and Susan Dieter-Robinson, ioffered their forgiveness to Garcia-Cisneros for killing Abigail, left, and Anna, right

Investigators picked up Garcia-Cisneros the day after the girls were killed. Here, an officer marks off the crime scene

Investigators picked up Garcia-Cisneros the day after the girls were killed. Here, an officer marks off the crime scene

Minutes after Garcia-Cisneros hit the leaves on her way home from getting fast food, her brother returned to the scene and saw a man standing over the pile, screaming. The man spoke to him briefly.

The boy went home and told his sister she may have hit two children.

Defense attorney Ethan Levi said Garcia-Cisneros was in a state of shock and denial after learning of the children and fixated on the possibility she wasn't the driver who struck them.

Prosecutor Bracken McKey told jurors that Garcia-Cisneros' choice not to come forward was morally and legally wrong.

'I’m going to choose forgiveness,' said a weeping Dieter-Robinson. 'Cinthya, I forgive you, I do.'

Teen weeps as she faces three years in prison after being found guilty of hit-and-run after accidentally running over and killing two young girls as they hid in pile of leaves Cinthya Garcia-Cisneros could be sentenced to anything from prison to probation Anna Dieter-Eckerdt, 6, was pronounced dead at the scene; Abigail Robinson, 11, was airlifted to a hospital where she died more than 24 hours later Garcia-Cisneros was told she'd hit the two girls shortly after it happened Oregon requires those involved in an accident to assist authorities after it happens Garcia-Cisneros' boyfriend pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution and was sentenced to 13 months in prison
Teen weeps as she faces three years in prison after being found guilty of hit-and-run after accidentally running over and killing two young girls as they hid in pile of leaves Cinthya Garcia-Cisneros could be sentenced to anything from prison to probation Anna Dieter-Eckerdt, 6, was pronounced dead at the scene; Abigail Robinson, 11, was airlifted to a hospital where she died more than 24 hours later Garcia-Cisneros was told she'd hit the two girls shortly after it happened Oregon requires those involved in an accident to assist authorities after it happens Garcia-Cisneros' boyfriend pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution and was sentenced to 13 months in prison

Nobody wins: Garcia-Cisneros (at right in her mug shot) was sentenced to 3-years probation for two counts of felony hit-and-run. she begged Dieter-Robinson and her husband and the rest of the girls' family for forgiveness and received it. However, she is an undocumented immigrant in the U.S. under the DREAM Act and could now face deportation at age 19

'The grief in this courtroom is palpable,' Judge Rick Knapp said at Friday's sentencing. 'I don't want to add to it'

'The grief in this courtroom is palpable,' Judge Rick Knapp said at Friday's sentencing. 'I don't want to add to it'

 

'I don’t want you to spend any more time in jail,' Deiter-Robinson continued. 'Live a life of honoring my girls.'

The prosecution said the crash itself was an accident, but the woman was required to return to the accident scene as soon as she learned of it. Her defense lawyer said the law doesn't say anything about the requirements when a driver learns later about an accident.

Authorities said the two girls were likely concealed by the leaves and not visible to Garcia-Cisneros.

Anna died at the scene. Abigail died later at a Portland hospital.

Before the sentence was read, Garcia-Cisneros--wearing shackles and orange prison garb--spoke once more.

Victims: Stepsisters 6-year-old Anna Dieter-Eckerdt, left, and 11-year-old Abigail Robinson, right, died after Garcia-Cisneros drove through a pile of leaves

Victims: Stepsisters 6-year-old Anna Dieter-Eckerdt, left, and 11-year-old Abigail Robinson, right, died after Garcia-Cisneros drove through a pile of leaves

Outgoing: Anna Dieter-Eckert was a first-grader at Dilley Elementary, where in the past few months she had made several close friends

Outgoing: Anna Dieter-Eckert was a first-grader at Dilley Elementary, where in the past few months she had made several close friends

'You say you forgive me, and I hope that you do,' she said after offering ever more tearful condolences and apologies.

'I do,' replied Dieter-Robinson.

The judge called the grief in the room 'palpable.'

'I don't want to add to it,' he said before handing down the relatively light sentence.

The judge had the option of imposing only probation or a maximum of three years in prison. In addition to probation, the judge also ordered Garcia-Cisneros to serve 250 hours of community service.

An Immigration attorney said the woman will next be taken into federal custody on an immigration hold and she may be deported.

Though she has temporary permission to be in the country legally under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, applicants in that program cannot have certain criminal convictions.

Aspiring actress: Abigail Robinson, pictured with her theater friend Natasha Kujawa, loved singing and dancing, and had just landed a role in a local production of the musical Annie

Aspiring actress: Abigail Robinson, pictured with her theater friend Natasha Kujawa, loved singing and dancing, and had just landed a role in a local production of the musical Annie

Community in shock: A makeshift memorial appeared outside the grieving family's home in Forest Grove, with people leaving flowers, balloons, stuffed animals and handwritten condolence notes

Community in shock: A makeshift memorial appeared outside the grieving family's home in Forest Grove, with people leaving flowers, balloons, stuffed animals and handwritten condolence notes