Dayna's family seeks justice

The Pike County Journal-Reporter

Dayna Kempson Schacht

Dayna's family seeks justice

Posted by

Rachel McDaniel

in Top Stories

Wednesday, October 27. 2010

Comments (24)

When the Kempson family lost their daughter and sister three months ago in a terrible car wreck on Highway 19 in Griffin, they never wanted to relive that day or the wreck that took her life. But two months after the tragic accident, a video of her body moments after her death was sent to their cell phone.

“It’s not getting any easier to handle. We were just beginning to be able to deal with losing her – and it really doesn’t matter if she’s 2, 20 or 40, when you lose a child it’s just devastating,” said her father Jeff Kempson. “We were blessed to have her in our lives for 23 years.”

Dayna Kempson Schacht was a mother of two boys aged 3 and 5 who grew up in Pike County and attended school here. Her family said that someone who responded to the accident scene talked about the video and sent it to people while at Buffalo’s Restaurant and Bar on Highway 16 in Griffin. One of the people who received the video recognized Dayna and called her parents.

For more on this story, read the Oct. 27 print/e-edition of the Pike County Journal Reporter.

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#1 BufordTJustice on 10/27/10 at 07:26 AM

Seeking justice how? Are they going to get a law passed through congress? Or is money all that they are really seeking?

#2 Firebug on 10/27/10 at 07:37 AM

I have a funny feeling this is about to get very ugly.

#2.1 Sheila Tolley on 10/27/10 at 10:10 AM

It got ugly when he took the picture, it got ridiculous when he passed it around at the bar in Griffin.

#2.1.1 Juan Williams on 10/27/10 at 01:46 PM

See, there you go. Lets start at the beginning now. It got ugly when somebody had one too many to drink and got behind the wheel. Then it got uglier when that someone being impaired was involved in a tragic crash. Okay Sheila take it from there. Oh no, not the Juan Williams feeling again.

#2.1.1.1 bb on 10/28/10 at 07:02 AM

It makes no difference what the circumstances of the accident were. What if this was your sister, daughter, mother, or friend? NO ONE deserves the recieve a video of their deceased love one. Just remember, karma is a B***H. Keep your thoughts to yourself.

#2.1.1.1.1 NothingMoreThenFeelings on 10/28/10 at 03:34 PM

One thing that is obvious is she does not come from a Christian family. I just do not like people who are out to ruin other peoples lives. The whole reason this happened is because of the complete disregard for human life by the victim. The family needs to move on. Nobody is going to shell out any money. There would be a chain reaction of lawsuits all across the land. This is happening all across America. I guess this is the first family that thinks justice should be served when a law is not broken. It goes to show where their greedy minds are at. If someone is entitled to money when their feelings are hurt by someone that did not break any laws this would be one freak show of a country. The SCFD needs to send the family a bill for there services that night. I would double it for their lack of respect for all the effort they put in to getting there with the hope of saving her life. One selfish family.

#2.1.1.1.1.1 nothing more than ignorant on 11/04/10 at 03:39 PM

YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY THE MOST IGNORANT PERSON SO FAR ON THIS COMMENT SECTION. A SADIST MAYBE, DEFINATELY NOT OF A CHRISTIAN UPBRINGING. THERE IS PROBABLY A GOOD CHANCE THAT YOU WILL BE AFFECTED BY A SIMILAR SITUATION AT SOME POINT IN YOUR LIFE. YOUR JUST REWARD WILL BE THAT NO ONE WILL CARE IF IT AFFECTS YOU LIKE NORMAL DECENT PEOPLE. BUT YOUR JUST ANOTHER JERK WITH AN INCOHERENT, SADISTIC, SUBLEVEL IQ, WHO WANTS TO STIR A POT OF HATRED AND SHOW THE WORLD JUST HOW PATHETIC YOU REALLY ARE. LUCKY FOR YOU THAT ANYONE WHO READS THIS DOES NOT KNOW YOUR IDENTITY, YOU WOULD HAVE TO CRAWL LOWER THAN TERRANCE REID TO AVOID THE ONSLAUGHT OF ANGER PEOPLE LIKE YOU CAUSE..... BUT GOD LOVES YOU ANYWAY. SEEK HIM OUT, THERES NO OTHER WAY FOR YOU TO GO BUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!

#2.1.1.1.1.1.1 crosby on 11/05/10 at 12:40 AM

Its called HIPPA! If you are in any kinda of public saftey you know about the HIPPA law and it was violated and it is a federal law!! They will win this its a given.

#3 Darwin on 10/27/10 at 09:14 AM

I hope they win a whole fire truck full of money and I hope they take everything that guy had, including his job- and the same goes for the other guy who forwarded it. Sometimes a significant financial loss is more effective than any law.

When Spalding County has to pay out $40-$90M, you'd better believe EVERY HR department in every municipality from Miami to Fairbanks will pass laws and write regulations to prevent this from EVER happening again. And it should NEVER happen again.

Nobody should have their death pictures posted all over the internet. No family should have to endure that pain over and over and over again. Since too few people have hearts and souls these days, the only way to get to them is to hit them where it hurts- in the bank account!

#3.1 WhoWillReallyPay on 10/27/10 at 01:42 PM

Being I live in Pike they can sue Griffin for all they want. It is not going to raise my taxes any. But for all that live in Spalding be prepared to pay the tab on this. You really think it will come out the firemans pocket? Nope it will come from the great citizens of Griffin. Each and everyone of them.

#3.1.1 Anonymous on 10/28/10 at 12:38 PM

The fireman who did this was a "Great city of Griffin citizen".

#3.2 Darwin was a hack on 10/29/10 at 03:31 PM

As stated numerous times, T. Reid should have and did lose his job. That said, why does anyone owe 40 to 90 million dollars and to whom? Was the "victim" a minor? The only damages the parents suffered from Reid's callous actions resulted from viewing the video which no one forced them to watch. Sadly, the children have been victimized MORE by the "accident." The results of the decisions made by BOTH parties will negatively affect them for the rest of their lives. Reid needs to let it go and drop any attempt to keep his job, and unless he gets it back, the Kempsons should let it go as well.

#4 Anonymous on 10/27/10 at 10:09 AM

Money, new laws, someone losing their job, who cares? Someone needs to be made an example of.This was cold and heartless. You might not feel that way if it were your baby.

#4.1 Juan Jr. on 10/27/10 at 02:06 PM

You sound like a KKK member. Society cares. We do not make up laws in this country as we go along. I guess thats why we leave the lawmaking to the educated with their system of getting them passed through congress. Good luck getting a jury to hand out money in this tough economy. This is a text book example straight out the psychology book. This young lady's death was nobodys fault but her own. The family is just looking for someone to put blame on for something. It is almost a natural reaction for people in this type of scenario. I am sure they are blaming the bartender at Buffalo's also. Another life ruined by this family. I do not doubt if they sue the GDOT for leaving that tree on the side of the highway either. I should not give them any other ideas. If this lady would have killed anyone because of he negligence the family would be hiding under a rock right now. Oh no! I am starting to get that Jaun Williams feeling again. Believe me , if anyone can relate to that man it is me!

#4.1.1 Justice on 10/27/10 at 08:44 PM

You are right in that it is the girls' fault that she is dead. It is not her fault that the fireman took her picture. Fireman should not be getting paid to stand around and take pictures of dead bodies to pass around town.

Like Darwin said, make somebody shell out some money and then they'll care about their actions.

#4.1.1.1 ThatWasStupid-Pay Me! on 10/28/10 at 03:41 PM

I like that concept. Every time someone does something stupid they have to shell out money. Even if they did not break a law. I am going to start implementing this idea on my kids starting now. Then I will move on to my neighbors. And who ever does not pay up I am going to sue. Its amazing this family has this mindset. Greed will drive people to lose reality.

#5 wow on 10/27/10 at 10:13 AM

Money or not, I hope they get everything he has or will ever get. what he took from the family does'nt have a price.

#5.1 BinLaden on 10/27/10 at 02:10 PM

No Christian teachings in that statement. What is that Muslim? Another one confusing the loss of a family member to a video. It does have a price and it is a lot less then the price of losing this young woman.

#6 stickman on 10/27/10 at 07:17 PM

I seriously doubt that he will lose his job ( even though he should). The local director of the NAACP has already spoken at a county commission meeting, so we all know where this is headed. As for Darwin 40-90 M, get real. The most the family can get from the county is the maximum of the insurance policy, which is usually about 1 mil. As for taking it from the firefighter, all you will get there is just a judgement. He won't ever have anything that amounts to the loss that the Kempson's have lost. But since we now have certain organizations involved, it will be very interesting.

I ALSO HEARD THERE WILL BE A RALLY ON THE STEPS OF THE SPALDING COUNTY COURTHOUSE ON FRIDAY, TO PROTEST AGAINST DISTRICT ATTORNEY SCOTT BALLARD AND THE D.A'S OFFICE ( FOR THEIR SOFT ATTITUDE ON CRIME AND PUNISHMENT! )

#7 Meansville Militia on 10/27/10 at 10:26 PM

I went to school with this girls daddy. He was and is still my friend. I cant imagine his sorrow in losing his child. I can however imagine his anger that her death was treated like a circus sideshow.My prayers are with you Jeff.

#8 Concord Resident on 10/28/10 at 03:23 PM

I think the comments here about lawsuits are pretty indicative that most haven't even bothered to read the full article in the newspaper. Most are jumping to conclusions that have no basis in fact.

There is no lawsuit. They don't want money. They want a law to make it illegal for this type of video to be published for public consumption. They are contacting law makers.

Why are you on here commenting without all the facts, when the facts are so easily obtained?

#9 wow on 10/28/10 at 06:08 PM

Last year, late at night, 2 cars ran out of room on 5 lanes of pavement on 19 between 109 east and west. The highway and ditches were blocked by "Lookers and heros" to the point that emergency crews could'nt get to the scene. This voyeurism needs to be stopped.

#9.1 GetReal on 11/06/10 at 02:47 PM

These wombats out drinking and driving is what needs to be stopped.

#10 dorothy on 11/11/10 at 08:27 PM

May this daughter/mother rest in peace...may her family find the peace that they so well deserve, may the firefighter who did this horrific thing never rest in peace, & all this could happen if people would let it lie & keep their noses out of it...GHOULS, ALL OF YOU, get a life why dont you, & you, & you & you, all of you above

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