Serial drunk driver jailed for 20 years for beating and killing boy, 13, after seven beers

A serial drunk driver has been jailed for up to 20 years for hitting and killing a child and then continuing to drive, after drinking seven beers.

Mason Ohms, 50, consumed more than 140 ounces of beer before charging into Eli Mitchell as the teen was biking home from a grocery store in West Jordan, Utah on April 26, 2022.

Witnesses say the 50-year-old was waiting to turn at a red light as the 13-year-old crossed the street. Ohms then “accelerated hard” and hit the boy with the front and rear tires of his car.

Witnesses watched as the drunk driver continued to drive with Mitchell’s bike still under his Chevy Silverado pickup. Ohms then made a U-turn back to the crime scene, but instead of stopping, he drove to a nearby parking lot where he dumped the bike.

It is unclear where Eli was at the time. He was fatally injured by the truck and later died at the hospital.

Mason Ohms, 50, was sentenced to up to 20 years in prison for the murder. He had four prior drunk driving convictions along with other driving offenses.

Charging documents claim Ohms was seen leaving a bar just two minutes before the crash, where he drank seven 20-ounce beers before getting behind the wheel and speeding away.

When questioned by police six hours later, Ohms still had a blood-alcohol level that was twice the legal limit, but he claimed of the accident that he only “felt a bump and didn’t know what it was.”

Ohms has four prior drunk driving convictions along with other driving offenses, and the judge said part of his lengthy sentencing decision stemmed from the 50-year-old’s criminal record.

Speaking after sentencing, Eli’s family paid tribute to the teenager, with his father, Jeremy Mitchell, saying: “Now the healing process can finally take place.”

Witnesses say the drunk driver continued down the road with the teen’s bike still under his Chevy Silverado pickup, before turning around and ditching the bike in a nearby parking lot. Eli’s bike is seen under the truck in this image taken at the time of the murder.

“I feel like we can now move to the next step,” he added. “It’s a sad day for both families.”

His mother, Lisa Mitchell, said she was “super grateful” to the judge after the conviction. She continued: ‘Eli lived large. He wasted no time. He just accomplished so much in his 13 years.

‘I want to tell people about Eli. Since Eli left, all I care about is making sure people get to know him and who he is. Even though he only lived here 13 years, he can still make a difference.’

He also condemned Ohms’ decision to flee the scene after lashing out at his son, adding: “How can someone be so horrible as to leave the lifeless body of a child in the street knowing that he is the reason why is dead?”.

“I think for me, when I get super sad, which is often, I try to think, ‘Would Eli want me to be super sad? And he wouldn’t want (that). He would want her to find joy. He would want me to live my best life for as long as he has.

Ohms broke down when the judge sentenced him, telling the court he was “sincerely sorry” for the tragic murder.

He added: “I take full responsibility for them, I wish it had never happened.”

After Ohms’ tearful apology, a young relative said, “I hope I can forgive him in time.”

Ohms pleaded guilty to second-degree felony manslaughter, motor vehicle manslaughter and third-degree felony leaving the scene of a fatal accident, and was sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.

He will serve up to 15 years for killing Eli, and up to another five years behind bars for fleeing the scene.