The Christmas season is one typically associated with love, joy and goodwill to your fellow man.

But for the families of three teenagers killed in a tragic drunk driving accident, the holidays are anything but bright, especially in light of a second perceived court-produced injustice.

“We don’t even enjoy the holidays anymore. It will never be the same,” said Douglas Meyer, Kaeden Tyler’s stepfather. “When you think about family, you think about the holidays. It’s a constant reminder of missing our boy.”

Kaeden, 15, and two friends, Emily McNees, 17 and William Flickinger, 18, were killed and Trevor Bogert, 19, was severely injured Feb. 5, 2023 in a onecar accident on Chantilly Road. The vehicle’s driver, Hailey Zenk, who was 17 at the time, later entered an Alford Plea to several felony charges that included driving while intoxicated resulting in the death of two of more and manslaughter.

Prosecutors alleged she was driving 81 in a 35 mile per hour zone while under the influence of alcohol and assorted narcotics, including marijuana.

Through her Alford Plea, Zenk conceded there was enough evidence to convict her, but did not admit guilt. At her sentencing, Zenk’s attorney, Nathan Steimel, stated his client had no memory of the incident.

“She still denies she’s the driver,” Meyer said. “Until you say, you’re remorseful and I did something wrong, I don’t see how I can forgive you if you can’t even admit that you did it.”

Despite the lack of that admission, St. Charles County Judge Michael Fagras showed Zenk mercy and suspended her 10-year prison sentence, sentencing her to 120-days in the county jail and placing her on five years of probation.

And while time may heal all wounds, this particular one was reopened just in time for the holidays for these grieving families. Zenk had been arrested Dec. 10 for an alleged probation violation. In court documents, Lincoln County Prosecutor Mike Wood alleged the alcohol monitoring device Zenk is required to wear was tampered with twice in November for several hours and that during one of those tampering incidents, alcohol was detected.

After Zenk was arrested on a $20,000 cash-only bond, she requested a bond reduction from Judge Fagras. He denied that request at a Dec. 19 hearing, but less than three hours later, her husband had posted the bond, allowing Zenk to come home for the holidays.

Emily’s mom, Lauren Hammond, said this time of year was going to be difficult even before Zenk’s latest courtroom drama.

“Christmas was her (Emily’s) favorite holiday,” she said. “She loved doing Christmas lights and she loved putting up the Christmas tree. She loved all of it.”

Hammond says people have told her it gets easier but that has not been her experience. She says it’s just a new normal.

This year, she made a gray blanket that is out at the cemetery with ornaments and two Christmas trees.

Hammond says Emily was super organized when it came to the holiday season as she would send both her parents her Christmas wish list. It would have different things on it so she would not get the same present plus details about where to get each gift.

Calling it “pretty smart” and “a good idea,” Hammond says another year without her daughter will be difficult.

Meyers mentioned how Kaeden’s impact will affect the entire family, but especially his siblings.

“Kaeden was the best big brother,” Meyer said. “He wasn’t perfect. No kids are perfect. But when it came to his brothers, they were number one. He was always there for them.”

Zenk will be back in court Feb. 7 for a hearing as to whether she did in fact violate her probation. At the bond reduction hearing, Steimel indicated the tampering incidents “needed investigation.”

If the judge rules she did violate her probation, she could face up to 10 years in prison.

Meyer and Hammond are both in agreement she should see the inside of a prison for a long time, although they aren’t certain it will happen.

“Obviously, we want to see justice. But obviously, the justice system failed before and didn’t put her in jail,” said Meyer after she was arrested. “We believe she is going to get probation again. She’s not going to go to jail.”

With social media posts and videos allegedly showing Zenk binge drinking in the months after the accident and the lack of an admission of guilt, Hammond remains angry.

“She (Zenk) has no remorse,” she said. “I’ve never said I hate somebody but I hate her. You do this to your friends. You call them your friends and you kill and hurt them. That is not a friend. I hope she realizes one day what she did.”