Case summary: Andria Heese was a Columbia Police Department officer when, on January 4, 2019, a marked police SUV she was driving struck four-year-old Gabriella Curry outside Battle High School in Columbia, Missouri. Heese was later charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter, pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of careless and imprudent driving, and was sentenced to two years of supervised probation, a 180-day suspended sentence, court costs, and 40 hours of community service.
Reports And Investigation
According to reports citing the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Heese was attempting to park on a sidewalk outside Battle High School so she could observe students loading onto school buses when the police vehicle struck Gabriella Curry. ABC News reported that Heese was identified by the Missouri State Highway Patrol as a Columbia Police Department officer and that the vehicle was a marked patrol car, described in the crash report as a 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe. ABC News report
A court filing published by ABC 17 News alleged that the crash happened after the Chevrolet left the traveled portion of the roundabout area and drove onto the sidewalk. The filing stated that surveillance video showed Gabriella walking east on the sidewalk before the front-left side of the Chevrolet struck her. The vehicle then stopped, and Heese exited the driver’s seat and approached Gabriella. Boone County complaint and probable-cause filing published by ABC 17 News
ABC 17 News later reported on a second probable-cause statement that said Heese was driving about 14 mph before the crash. The same report said a Missouri State Highway Patrol investigator concluded Heese should have slowed down because she routinely performed duties in that area and should have anticipated pedestrian traffic during school dismissal. ABC 17 News report on the second probable-cause statement
Allegations
The original criminal complaint alleged that Heese recklessly caused Gabriella Curry’s death by running her over with a vehicle after entering an area typically used by pedestrians at a speed and from an angle that prevented her from avoiding Gabriella. That allegation was part of the felony complaint; it was not the final conviction. Boone County complaint and probable-cause filing published by ABC 17 News
Charges
Heese was charged in December 2019 with first-degree involuntary manslaughter in connection with Gabriella Curry’s death. KRCG reported that the complaint was filed by Camden County Prosecutor Heather Louise Miller, who served as special prosecutor. KRCG report on the original charge
On June 1, 2021, Heese pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of careless and imprudent driving. ABC 17 News reported that special prosecutor Kevin Hillman reduced the charge before the plea. ABC 17 News report on the guilty plea
Conviction And Sentence
Heese was convicted of careless and imprudent driving after her guilty plea. On July 8, 2021, she was sentenced to two years of supervised probation. The Associated Press reported that she also received a 180-day suspended sentence and was ordered to complete 40 hours of community service. Associated Press sentencing report
KRCG also reported that Heese was ordered to pay court costs and perform 40 hours of community service. KRCG sentencing report
Lawsuits And Settlements
Public reporting described civil settlements connected to Gabriella Curry’s death. The Associated Press reported that Gabriella’s family reached a $3.4 million settlement with the City of Columbia and a $125,000 settlement with Columbia Public Schools. Associated Press sentencing report
Missouri Lawyers Media reported that a Boone County judge approved a wrongful-death settlement of about $3.4 million between Gabriella Curry’s parents and the City of Columbia. The report said the settlement released the city, its insurer, and Heese from additional claims stemming from Gabriella’s death. Missouri Lawyers Media report on the settlement
Official Statements And Reported Response
ABC News reported that, after the crash, Heese, another officer, and school personnel began providing medical care, and that advanced life support was administered after emergency responders arrived. ABC News also reported that Acting Police Chief Jill Schlude called the incident “extremely tragic” and asked people to pray for Gabriella’s family and for the officer involved. ABC News report
Reports vary on Heese’s later employment status. This story identifies her as a Columbia Police Department officer at the time of the January 4, 2019 incident and does not make a current-employment claim.
Uncorroborated Claims
No uncorroborated claims are included in this story. The facts above are limited to court filings and named news reports. Allegations from charging documents are labeled as allegations, and the final criminal outcome is identified separately as a conviction for careless and imprudent driving.
