Scott P. March Rejected a Prison Offer of Just Over 23 Years for a Drunk-Driving Crash That Killed a Couple, Then Received 47 Years

Instagram Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter Amazon TikTok TikTok Thought Catalog Diamond Mark Camera Collective World FlagLink Loading Arrow Pointing Down Skip to content Scott P. March, 64, rejected a plea offer of just over 23 years in prison after a drunk-driving crash killed a Florida couple — a decision that left his fate to a judge, who ultimately sentenced him to 47 years.

Scott P. March, 64, turned down a prison offer of just over 23 years after a drunk-driving crash killed Thomas Lauck, 72, and Julia Ann Lauck, 73. He entered an open no-contest plea, leaving his sentence to the judge.

Circuit Judge A. Christian Miller gave him 47 years on Oct. 7, 2026, the sentence Assistant State Attorney Ashley Terwilleger requested. March pleaded no contest to 2 counts each of DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide.

The Laucks were in a Jeep Wrangler on A1A in Ormond Beach when March hit them at 110 mph while trying to pass. He’d bought the new Corvette that morning for over $170,000.

The speed limit on the 2-lane road was 45 mph. March was traveling at 147 mph only 5.5 seconds before the collision. Witnesses said he’d already passed another motorist and an ambulance in no-passing zones.

His blood alcohol level was 0.13. Both Laucks were ejected.

Thomas died at the scene. Julia died at a hospital, knowing that 1 of her legs had been amputated and that her husband was dead.

Terwilleger said the offer was meant to spare the Laucks’ family the emotional strain of a trial or an open plea. She’d initially intended to make no offer. “This is one of the most egregious DUI manslaughters and vehicular homicides that I have seen,” she said.

March read an apology to the family, saying, “The feeling of remorse I have in my heart is indescribable.” He said he believed he’d suffered a “temporary mental breakdown” on the day of the crash and pointed to his mother’s 2024 death, open-heart surgery and a divorce. He also begged the judge to note that no male in his family had lived past 80.

Miller cited March’s prior DUI conviction in California and what he told a witness at the crash scene: “I guess I’m going to have to buy another car.”

The couple’s son, Zach Osborne, and their niece, Missy Cole, asked for the maximum sentence. The Laucks divided their year between Florida and Ohio, where family was waiting to see them again. Osborne and Cole said the drive that ended in the crash was a trip to the beach to watch the sunset.

“We did not lose Tom and Julie,” Cole said. “They were ripped from our lives tragically, senselessly, violently and with no remorse.”

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