Louisville family of victim killed in DUI crash frustrated by another postponed hearing

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Wednesday was supposed to be a day of closure for Kaylee Sauter.

Her boyfriend, 17-year-old Mohammed Hussein, was killed in a DUI crash in April 2023. Sauter joined Hussein's family in court Wednesday, hoping for the piece of justice.

"Every time I walk into that courtroom, it's just everything's flooded of what I lost," she said. "We just want it to be over. We just want him to rest. That's it."

Wednesday was the second hearing in which Ernesto "Erick" Ocampo was expected to take a plea deal for the murder charge in a DUI crash that killed Hussein.

According to arrest documents, Ocampo was speeding and driving under the influence on Shepherdsville Road, when he crashed into the back of a Toyota that was stopped at a red light on April 22. That caused a chain reaction crash, with the Toyota then hitting a Pontiac that crashed into the back of a Buick.

Louisville Metro Police said Ocampo was speeding and didn't attempt to stop or slow down before he crashed into the Toyota. Three people were in the Toyota, including Hussein, who was taken to UofL Hospital where he died from his injuries.

Hussein's family said he was a high school junior who previously attended Fern Creek High School, but had recently transferred to Seneca before he was killed.

Police said Ocampo had a blood alcohol level more than four times the legal limit.

On Wednesday, Ocampo's attorney asked to inspect a vehicle involved in the crash. She wouldn't specify which one.

"How is any of this arguable?" Sauter said Wednesday. "I don't understand. I know it's a process. It's not a good one."

Again, Sauter and Hussein's family were left waiting, not able to put into words how difficult the past 10 months have been.

"This is the hardest thing we've been through," said Aeisha Hussein, Mohammed's sister said. "I don't know. I really don't know."

All they're left with is pictures, a reminder of what they used to have. For Sauter, there are memories and also thoughts of the prom they should have attended this year.

"We would practice in my kitchen dancing for prom," she said Wednesday. "We had so many plans."

Leaving arm in arm, they'll return to court again, hoping for justice.

"I'm just sad and I'm just heartbroken, and I just feel so helpless because I can't do anything," Sauter said. "I have to hold faith in these people, and they haven't given me a reason to."

Ocampo has been in jail on a $100,000 full cash bond since his arrest in April. He is expected to be back in court again this April.

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