Janice Winblad Nicolich (August 9, 1935 – June 28, 1996) was an American woman who was killed in a car accident by a drunk driver. During the trial Nicolich's daughter wrote that she had forgiven the drunk driver and urged that the court do likewise. The subsequent court case led to a Nebraska Supreme Court decision on the issue of leniency in drunk driving deaths. The story was part of an The Oprah Winfrey Show and the book The Road To Forgiveness: Hearts Shattered by Tragedy, Transformed by Love.
Birth and marriage
Janice Ann Winblad was born on August 9, 1935, in Astoria, New York, to Anthony LeRoy Winblad (1912–1970) and Maria W. Zorovich (1912–1993). Janice Winblad married Joseph Anthony Nicolich on May 15, 1954, in Astoria. Robyn Griffiths and Janice Winblad Nicolich were killed.
Sentence
The trial court sentenced Verma Harrison, the drunk driver, to five years' probation on each count. The sentences were to be served consecutively. The conditions of probation subjected Harrison to random drug and alcohol testing, home visitations, and a treatment referral. The light sentence was appealed by Joe Nicolich and was heard by the Nebraska State Court of Appeals, which found the sentence to be excessively lenient. On January 22, 1999, the Nebraska Supreme Court upheld the original sentencing.