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‘I’m so sorry I ruined your life.’ MS Coast security guard sentenced in killing of sisters

Updated: 24-10-2024, 08.50 AM

Longtime Mississippi Coast security guard Joseph Leo Nangle is headed to prison for 45 years, followed by five years of probation for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and causing a fiery five-car crash that killed two sisters from New Orleans.

Nangle, 45, of Ocean Springs, had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated DUI causing death in the July 9, 2022, crash in Ocean Springs that killed sisters Mary “Julie” Kelley, 52, and Elizabeth “Lisa” Kelley Conners, 54.

Nangle said he had been drinking alcohol at the Golden Nugget casino in Biloxi and had taken a pill he believed to be Adderall, the drug for attention deficit disorder that he had gotten from a friend. In a toxicology screen, according to the records, Nangle had also snorted some methamphetamine.

Joseph Leo Nangle leaves the courtroom in Jackson County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, following his sentencing. Nangle was sentenced to 50 years, with 45 to serve, in the DUI deaths of Mary “Julie” Kelley and Elizabeth “Lisa” Kelley Conners.Joseph Leo Nangle leaves the courtroom in Jackson County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, following his sentencing. Nangle was sentenced to 50 years, with 45 to serve, in the DUI deaths of Mary “Julie” Kelley and Elizabeth “Lisa” Kelley Conners.

Joseph Leo Nangle leaves the courtroom in Jackson County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, following his sentencing. Nangle was sentenced to 50 years, with 45 to serve, in the DUI deaths of Mary “Julie” Kelley and Elizabeth “Lisa” Kelley Conners.

Before sentencing by Circuit Judge Kathy King Jackson on Tuesday, family members of the deceased sisters told the judge about how the family has suffered immeasurable pain as a result of Nangle’s actions.

“We are here today because of the reckless, selfish choice made by someone who decided to drive a vehicle under the influence of drugs and alcohol,” sister-in-law Leslie Kelley said. “That choice has forever altered our family and taken from us two beautiful souls, my sisters-in-law,”

Mary “Julie” Kelley and Elizabeth “Lisa” Kelley Conners’s sister-in-law Leslie Kelley wears a photo of Julie and Lisa on her lapel during Joesph Nangle’s sentencing in their deaths in Jackson County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024.Mary “Julie” Kelley and Elizabeth “Lisa” Kelley Conners’s sister-in-law Leslie Kelley wears a photo of Julie and Lisa on her lapel during Joesph Nangle’s sentencing in their deaths in Jackson County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024.

Mary “Julie” Kelley and Elizabeth “Lisa” Kelley Conners’s sister-in-law Leslie Kelley wears a photo of Julie and Lisa on her lapel during Joesph Nangle’s sentencing in their deaths in Jackson County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024.

The Kelley sisters lived in New Orleans but often drove to Ocean Springs to visit their family for fun weekends with family. That is exactly what they were planning to do on July 9, 2022, before their lives ended after the impaired driver at speeds of 60 mph crashed into the back of the car of the sisters and slammed into four others.

Others spoke on behalf of the Kelley sisters about how supportive and loved they were in New Orleans, where they had served as queen of Mardi Gras Krewe of Dreaux.

Nangle cried as he tried to make amends for his addiction to drugs and alcohol and how he chose to drive impaired and caused the deaths.

Joseph Leo Nangle reacts as he hears impact statements from the loved ones of Mary “Julie” Kelley and Elizabeth “Lisa” Kelley Conners during Nangle’s sentencing in Jackson County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024.Joseph Leo Nangle reacts as he hears impact statements from the loved ones of Mary “Julie” Kelley and Elizabeth “Lisa” Kelley Conners during Nangle’s sentencing in Jackson County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024.

Joseph Leo Nangle reacts as he hears impact statements from the loved ones of Mary “Julie” Kelley and Elizabeth “Lisa” Kelley Conners during Nangle’s sentencing in Jackson County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024.

“I don’t have the words to describe or explain how truly devastated and remorseful I am for being responsible for this unimaginable accidental tragedy that resulted in the deaths of Mary and Elizabeth … and injured others,” he said. “I never intended for this accident to happen.

“I am not an evil man or a violent man,” Nangle said. “Nor have I ever been. I stand here as a human being, a man taking full responsibility for this accident.

Nangle said he got sober after the fatal crash and has maintained his sobriety for over 800 days.

“I am sorry I ruined your life,” Nangle told the Kelley family and other friends. “I’m so sorry I ruined your life. I’m so sorry I ruined your family and my family.”

When encouraging the judge to sentence Nangle to the maximum sentence allowed, District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath pointed out Nangle’s two prior DUI convictions and how he failed to get sober until after the crash that killed people.

District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath speaks during the sentencing of Joseph Leo Nangle in Jackson County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. Nangle was sentenced to 50 years, with 45 to serve, in the DUI deaths of Mary “Julie” Kelley and Elizabeth “Lisa” Kelley Conners.District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath speaks during the sentencing of Joseph Leo Nangle in Jackson County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. Nangle was sentenced to 50 years, with 45 to serve, in the DUI deaths of Mary “Julie” Kelley and Elizabeth “Lisa” Kelley Conners.

District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath speaks during the sentencing of Joseph Leo Nangle in Jackson County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. Nangle was sentenced to 50 years, with 45 to serve, in the DUI deaths of Mary “Julie” Kelley and Elizabeth “Lisa” Kelley Conners.

She spoke about the sister’s mother and other family and the overwhelming grief they have suffered as a result of the crash.

“They lost two sisters in one day,” McIlrath said. “I can’t imagine. Actually, the only thing worse than losing a child could be losing two.

At the time of his plea earlier this year, Nangle said he did not recall the crash.

“My friend was playing blackjack,” he said. “The next thing I remember, I was in ICU.”

Joseph Leo Nangle enters a circuit courtroom in Jackson County on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, for his sentencing in the deaths of Mary “Julie” Kelley and Elizabeth “Lisa” Kelley Conners.Joseph Leo Nangle enters a circuit courtroom in Jackson County on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, for his sentencing in the deaths of Mary “Julie” Kelley and Elizabeth “Lisa” Kelley Conners.

Joseph Leo Nangle enters a circuit courtroom in Jackson County on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, for his sentencing in the deaths of Mary “Julie” Kelley and Elizabeth “Lisa” Kelley Conners.

The crash happened on U.S. 90 at Ocean Springs Road.

Before his arrest in the fatal crash, Nangle had worked in security for years at Mississippi Coast casinos, a private security company, and a Mississippi industrial plant.

Nangle had been indicted on two counts each of manslaughter, second-degree murder and aggravated DUI in the killings. Jackson County prosecutors agreed to dismiss the remaining charges in exchange for his guilty pleas. Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Mobley prosecuted the case.

Judge Kathy King Jackson listens to the sentencing of Joseph Leo Nangle in Jackson County Circuit Court in Pascagoula on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024.Judge Kathy King Jackson listens to the sentencing of Joseph Leo Nangle in Jackson County Circuit Court in Pascagoula on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024.

Judge Kathy King Jackson listens to the sentencing of Joseph Leo Nangle in Jackson County Circuit Court in Pascagoula on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024.

Attorney Jim Davis shows an image of Joseph Leo Nangle’s sobriety chips to the prosecution during Nangle’s sentencing in Jackson County Circuit Court in Pascagoula on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024.Attorney Jim Davis shows an image of Joseph Leo Nangle’s sobriety chips to the prosecution during Nangle’s sentencing in Jackson County Circuit Court in Pascagoula on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024.

Attorney Jim Davis shows an image of Joseph Leo Nangle’s sobriety chips to the prosecution during Nangle’s sentencing in Jackson County Circuit Court in Pascagoula on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024.

Catherine Haab gives an impact statement about the deaths of her friends Mary “Julie” Kelley and Elizabeth “Lisa” Kelley Conners during the sentencing of Joseph Leo Nangle in Jackson County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. Nangle was sentenced to 50 years, with 45 to serve, in the DUI deaths of Mary “Julie” Kelley and Elizabeth “Lisa” Kelley Conners.Catherine Haab gives an impact statement about the deaths of her friends Mary “Julie” Kelley and Elizabeth “Lisa” Kelley Conners during the sentencing of Joseph Leo Nangle in Jackson County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. Nangle was sentenced to 50 years, with 45 to serve, in the DUI deaths of Mary “Julie” Kelley and Elizabeth “Lisa” Kelley Conners.

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