Jury convicts 21-year-old in fatal crash that killed 17-year-old girlfriend
Cooper Ouellette faces up to a decade in prison for second-degree manslaughter after a jury found him guilty of running over Sophie Ringquist in 2023.
By Julia Wang ·
A jury in New Britain found Cooper Ouellette guilty of second-degree manslaughter on Friday.
The 21-year-old from Harwinton also received a conviction for delivering alcohol to a minor. The manslaughter count carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. Prosecutors alleged that Ouellette struck and dragged Sophie Ringquist, a 17-year-old from Burlington, with his pickup truck on the night of May 20, 2023.
Ouellette and Ringquist were in an intermittent dating relationship at the time of the incident. According to state officials, the pair attended a party in Terryville where underage drinking occurred. The prosecution argued that Ouellette hit Ringquist after she stepped away from the vehicle. He then allegedly pulled her back into the truck and drove her to her home.
Judge Chris Pelosi presided over the trial at state Superior Court. The defense originally sought acquittal, a motion the judge denied on Friday morning. The jury subsequently considered lesser included offenses. They acquitted Ouellette of first-degree manslaughter, the initial charge filed by the state.
Sophie Ringquist’s family released a written statement on Sunday evening. The family thanked State’s Attorney Chris Watson, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Dave Clifton, and Inspector Ed Apicella for their work. "We cannot adequately express how grateful we are," the family wrote. They cited the legal team's professionalism and commitment to seeking justice.
The family noted that they continue to rely on their faith and the support of friends and strangers. They described the process of making sense of their daughter’s death as an ongoing struggle.
