Logo

Attorneys representing the accused drunk driver who struck and killed newlywed bride Samantha Hutchinson on the day of her South Carolina nuptials are asking the public “not to rush to judgment.”

Jamie Lee Komoroski, 25, last week retained two high-powered attorneys, Nathan S. Williams and Christopher S. Gramiccioni, to defend her in her criminal case.

Williams is a former federal prosecutor best known for trying mass shooter Dylann Roof and convincing a jury to give him the death penalty.

Gramiccioni spent nearly a decade serving as a prosecutor in Monmouth County, New Jersey, before entering private practice in 2021.

“We cannot fathom what the families are going through and offer our deepest sympathies,” the attorneys said in a written statement to the Post & Courier. “We simply ask that there not be a rush to judgment. Our court system is founded upon principles of justice and mercy and that is where all facts will come to light.”

Komoroski, formerly a waitress at a taco eatery, is accused of drunkenly rear-ending a golf cart that Hutchinson and her new husband, Aric Hutchinson, were riding in after their wedding reception at Folley Beach, South Carolina, on April 28.

Officials said Komoroski was going 40 mph over the 25-mph speed limit in her rented Toyota Camry along a poorly lit residential street when she slammed into the newlyweds’ slow-moving vehicle, which was thrown 100 yards on impact and rolled over several times.


  Attorneys for Jamie Lee Komoroski asked the public not to “rush to judgment” in her South Carolina DUI case. Folly Beach Police Attorneys for Jamie Lee Komoroski asked the public not to “rush to judgment” in her South Carolina DUI case. Folly Beach Police

  Samantha Hutchinson, 34, was killed and her husband, Aric, 36, was seriously injured when their golf cart was rear-ended by Komoroski’s speeding car. Facebook / Michael D Peifer Samantha Hutchinson, 34, was killed and her husband, Aric, 36, was seriously injured when their golf cart was rear-ended by Komoroski’s speeding car. Facebook / Michael D Peifer

Samantha, 34, was declared dead at the debris-littered scene, still wearing her white wedding dress.

Her 36-year-old husband was transported to a hospital suffering from a brain injury and multiple broken bones. He underwent two surgeries and was released home on May 4.  

Komoroski, who was not injured in the collision, was arrested and charged with three counts of DUI involving death or serious bodily injury and reckless homicide.


  Police said the couple were traveling in this golf cart after their reception at Folley Beach in South Carolina when the slow-moving vehicle was struck and rolled over several times. WCIV Police said the couple were traveling in this golf cart after their reception at Folley Beach in South Carolina when the slow-moving vehicle was struck and rolled over several times. WCIV

  Komorosi was allegedly doing 65 mph in a 25-mph zone in her rented Toyota Camry. WCIV Komorosi was allegedly doing 65 mph in a 25-mph zone in her rented Toyota Camry. WCIV

According to arrest affidavits, Komoroski said she had a beer and a shot of tequila before getting behind the wheel that night. On an impairment scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being sober), she ranked herself an 8.

The 25-year-old suspect smelled of alcohol but “strongly refused” a field sobriety test at the scene, police said. She remains jailed in North Charleston, having been denied bond.

Everything you need to know about <strong>Jamie Lee Komoroski</strong>

What will happen to her?

Komoroski was charged with three felony DUIs resulting in great bodily injury or death and one count of reckless homicide after killing a bride and injuring a groom who had just left their wedding reception. She is facing up to 25 years in jail.

Komoroski, 25, plowed into Samantha Hutchinson’s golf cart, which had four people on it, while driving around 65 miles per hour, according to Folly Beach police.

Sam Hutchinson was declared dead at the scene by responding officers. Her new husband, Aric Hutchinson, was hospitalized with severe injuries.

Police said Komoroski’s blood-alcohol content was three times over the legal limit.

Komoroski reportedly smelled of alcohol but refused to take a sobriety test, according to police.

Aric filed a wrongful death suit against the alleged drunk driver and the bars that he says served her before the horrific incident.

Komoroski has been let out of jail and is under house arrest after being granted bail with strict conditions on Friday, as revealed by The Post.

A judge said she should be granted bail if Charleston County couldn’t bring the case to trial before March 1.

A judge has signed a warrant for two vials of blood to be drawn from Komoroski. Police are still waiting for tests results that will show her blood alcohol level the night of the crash.  


  Samantha was still wearing her wedding dress when she was pronounced dead from her injuries. Facebook / Michael D Peifer Samantha was still wearing her wedding dress when she was pronounced dead from her injuries. Facebook / Michael D Peifer

  The couple had been together for three years and were looking forward to buying a home and starting a family in Charleston. GoFundMe The couple had been together for three years and were looking forward to buying a home and starting a family in Charleston. GoFundMe

Andrew Gilreath, director of the Folly Beach Public Safety Department, said his detectives are busy interviewing residents and bar owners, reviewing credit card receipts and recovering data from Komoroski’s cellphone to create a timeline of her actions leading up to the collision.

Komoroski grew up in New Jersey but recently relocated to South Carolina. In 2020, she graduated from Coastal Carolina University with a degree in marketing.

She shared a home on James Island with two roommates and worked as a server at the Mexican restaurant Taco Boy, where a manager described the now-former employee as having a “good personality for the job.”


  Aric Hutchinson suffered a brain injury and broken bones, and has since undergone two surgeries. GoFundMe Aric Hutchinson suffered a brain injury and broken bones, and has since undergone two surgeries. GoFundMe

Family members of the tragic newlyweds said Samantha and Aric met three years ago on a work trip to Idaho. They lived in an apartment on James Island since 2021 but planned to buy a home in the Charleston area where they could raise a family.  

“They deserved each other,” said Samantha’s mom, Lisa Miller, who is now planning her daughter’s funeral while supporting her widowed son-in-law.

Comments
anonymous profile image
Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy