MT. VERNON, Ill. (WSIL) -- A woman pleaded guilty to a murder charge in connection to a deadly pedestrian crash in September of 2024.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office reported Melissa Howes pleaded guilty to First-Degree Murder and Aggravated DUI involving a death in connection to the deadly pedestrian vs vehicle incident in Dix back on September 2, 2024.

The sheriff's office said Howes was sentenced to 20 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.