VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A man who pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal in relation to the 2021 hit and run death of Bobbi Jo Stevens has been sentenced to three years in prison.
Gordon Vanderbilt appeared for sentencing in Vigo County Superior Court 3 on Tuesday. Judge Sarah Mullican gave Vanderbilt three years in prison, one year of work-release jail time, and two years probation.
The case stems from the events of August 1, 2021, when Bobbi Jo Stevens was struck by a car in the area of 12th and Lockport in Terre Haute. Stevens was flown to an Indianapolis hospital where she eventually died as a result of the injuries sustained in the incident.
On August 5, 2021, Terre Haute Police Department announced the arrest of Vanderbilt. Police said he was found while in the process of having his vehicle’s front-end damage repaired, and Vanderbilt claimed to have hit a deer.
“Gordon Vanderbilt left Bobbi Jo Stevens on the side of the road to die,” Chief Deputy Prosecutor Rob Roberts argued. “He had multiple opportunities over the next four days to do the right thing and tell police he was the person that struck her. His efforts in destroying evidence and attempting to conceal his involvement in the crash warrant him going to prison.”
According to Roberts, the state asked for a six-year prison sentence, while the defense asked for Vanderbilt to remain on home detention where he’d been while the case was pending.
Court records indicate Vanderbilt changed his plea to guilty as part of a plea agreement on February 16 of this year in relation to a level 4 felony of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.
Following Judge Mullican’s sentence, Vanderbilt was taken into custody to await transport to prison.
