MACCLENNY, Fla. – Nearly a year after his death, a popular youth pastor's family is urging lawmakers for a harsher punishment for the woman troopers say is responsible for the crash that killed him.
Todd Annis ministered at the First Assembly of God in Macclenny. He was also a chaplain for the Baker County High School football team.
Police arrested 22-year-old Holly King (pictured below) and charged her with careless driving and driving with a suspended license.
"No peace. Everyday we all cry," said Barbara O'Neal, Annis' mother-in-law. "Every day you could be riding to church and think about Todd riding to church and (his wife) Lauren going with him and being happy. But those days aren't here."
O'Neal remembers the good times with her son-in-law, but the last year has been filled with sadness since Annis was killed in a car crash on Interstate 10.
Annis' wife escaped with only minor physical injuries, but says she has emotional scars that will last a lifetime.
"He became supercharged and he did everything with a great deal of enthusiasm and energy. He loved what he did," said Thomas Annis, Todd's father.
He said his son was a popular youth pastor who changed so many lives. But he and investigators say one woman took his. State troopers say King was driving recklessly and crashed into Annis' car, causing it to flip and killing the 32-year-old.
King was driving on a suspended license. Records show the she's had 11 speeding tickets over the years.
She was arrested five months after the crash and charged with careless driving resulting in death and being behind the wheel with a suspended license.
Investigators say she wasn't using drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash, but Annis' family still says she's getting off too easily.
"She drove the car knowing she didn't have a license," Thomas Annis said. "She drove the car at a high rate of speed and at a reckless manner. And she obviously had a disregard for everybody's safety."
As King awaits trial, Annis' family wants the charges to be upgraded to vehicular manslaughter to make sure she doesn't do something like this again.
Records show King was pulled over for speeding even after the fatal crash, accused of going between 20 and 29 mph over the speed limit.
"Her driving record would indicate that this person obviously has a serious problem," Channel 4 crime analyst Ken Jefferson said.
He said he's surprised King is not classified as a habitual traffic offender, and he said Annis' family should keep pushing for tougher punishment.
"Sometimes it can get the attention of the legislatures or the state attorney if they have a valid, legitimate point," Jefferson said. "It will get their attention."