Man Gets 30 Years For Injecting Heroin, Killing Child In Car Crash

ATLANTA, GA -- A Cherokee County man will spend 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges he injected heroin and ran over three children in Atlanta, killing one of the boys.

Ryan Michael Lisabeth, 29, pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of vehicular homicide in the first degree, serious injury by vehicle, possession of heroin, driving under the influence of a controlled substance, DUI less safe, reckless driving and driving on the wrong side of the road.

The Fulton County District Attorney’s office recommended the maximum sentence possible -- 49 years -- to serve in prison for Lisabeth. However, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Henry Newkirk sentenced the Canton man to 30 years in prison without the possibility of parole in a non-negotiated plea.

According to an indictment presented in July 2016 by a Fulton County grand jury, Lisabeth injected heroin into his body before he began speeding on Joseph E. Boone Boulevard in northwest Atlanta on April 15.

Lisabeth veered over the center line into the wrong lane, and finally onto the sidewalk curb where he struck three children, the indictment charges.

Isaiah Ward, 9, died from his injuries. His older brother, Roland, 12, suffered a broken pelvis and broken leg. The other victim, Timothy, 14, also a friend of the Ward brothers, sustained two skull fractures and a broken leg.

The injuries sent Timothy into a coma for three to four weeks. The District Attorney's Office notes both surviving children are in the midst of recovering "emotionally and physically" from their wounds.

“April 15th was the day my life changed for the worst,” said Isaiah’s Uncle LaFreddie Smith. “I’m all for second chances. Unfortunately, my nephew (Isaiah) won’t have a second chance. I hope Roland can get a second chance.”

At the time of Lisabeth’s arrest, responding officers noticed from his constricted pupils that he was under the influence of a substance, which was later identified as heroin. Police also located a syringe and plastic bag with a white powder inside of Lisabeth’s vehicle. He was taken into custody and charged in connection to the case.

“I’m thankful that this day has come and we're able to bring some closure," said Teresa Lawrence, Timothy's mother. "I’m asking that justice be served for all three kids."

The case was prosecuted by Fulton County Chief Senior Assistant District Attorney Seleta Griffin and Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Morris with the assistance of Fulton County Senior Investigator Terri Jackson. Detective Thomas Gleason from the Atlanta Police Department was the lead investigator.

Photo: a previous mug shot of Ryan Michael Lisabeth. Credit: Cherokee Sheriff's Office