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Family seeks maximum sentence for Iowa City drag race killer
In Johnson County Court Kelly Russell and family urged Judge Michael Harris to give Kesean Ford the maximum 10 year term after Ford pled guilty to homicide by vehicle excess speed over 25 mph in the 2023 crash that killed 22-year-old Jennifer Russell of Waterloo. Ford, 19 at the time, slammed into her car at an E Court Street S Seventh Avenue intersection, dragging racing with Elijah Seals, with witnesses recalling a brief, deadly collision. The Russell family spoke of lifelong pain and demanded accountability while Ford showed remorse and requested a suspended sentence. The judge sentenced Ford to 10 years and ordered him to pay 150,000 jointly with Seals to Russell’s estate and to have his license likely revoked.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Iowa City
Waterloo
Kelly Russell
Jennifer Russell
Kesean Ford
Ford
Russell
Jennifer
Johnson County
Jethro’s
Coralville
E. Court Street
S. Seventh Avenue
6Th Judicial District
Michael Harris
Matt Russell
Tyler Russell
Jen
Jeffrey Brunelle
Harris
Brunelle
Elijah Seals
Seals
Sears
Jeffrey Powell
Powell
Iowa
Iowa Department of Transportation
Tesean Ford
Jim Slosiarek
the Gazette