Drunk Driver Kyle Papa Pleads Guilty to Felony in Death of Mishawaka Mother

Kyle T. Papa

A drunk driver responsible for the death of a mother of three has pleaded guilty. Kyle T. Papa, 23, entered a plea deal with the prosecutor’s office. He appeared in court today before Judge John Marnocha where he formally entered the guilty plea.

As we reported in July:

Papa was allegedly driving a van on June 15, 2014 with a twenty-four year old female passenger, Amanda Ezra. According to the prosecutor’s office, Ezra was leaning out of the front passenger side window when Papa jumped a curb in a cul-de-sac near Chestnut Street in Osceola. Ezra struck her head on a guide wire and then the side of the van, dying from her injuries. Ezra was a Mishawaka resident and mother of three children.

Prosecutors allege that Papa left the scene of the accident. He was found later that morning and arrested. Papa remains in custody at the St. Joseph County Jail in South Bend.

Today’s plea deal means that four of the five counts will be dropped. Papa pleaded guilty to the most serious count, Leaving the Scene of an Accident after Operating While Intoxicated Causing Serious Bodily Injury, a Class B Felony.

Papa’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 23 at 9 am.

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