VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) — It’s been nearly two years since 24-year-old Samantha Clark was killed in a DUI crash in Valdosta.

Jack and Patti Clark have been waiting over a year to find out how Jonathan Marshall, the driver accused of killing their daughter Samantha in November 2024 will plea.

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Marshall is set to enter his plea on Thursday, Oct. 22, according to the family. He will be sentenced 30 to 60 days later.

Jack said, “I know she (Samantha) is smiling because daddy and momma aren’t giving up, she wouldn’t have either...she wouldn’t have give up.”

But the fight for accountability continues as the Clark’s ask Georgia lawmakers to sponsor what they’re calling Samantha’s Law. They say no punishment will bring Samantha back but they are hoping her name leads to a law that protects someone else’s child.

“Knowing that we would be able to start something under her name, because she was taken unexpectedly,” Jack said. “If we could get a law where no other family would have to go through that. You do the crime, you do the time right then, you get no bond.”

Samantha’s Law would require a judge to individually review release decisions in fatal DUI cases, and make clear that pending toxicology results alone can’t be the reason someone gets out on bond. It’s a gap the Clarks say kept Marshall out on bond for months after the crash that killed their daughter — before lab results ever confirmed what they already knew.

“When you do something like this, it’s a punishable crime but its not a punishable crime like people think,” Jack said. “When we were told about he (Marshall) could get this amount but it could be reduced to this amount. There should be no plea bargains, Samantha didn’t have a bargain so no one else should.”

There is a petition form supporting Samantha’s Law, it has collected over 170 signatures in a few weeks. Thanks to family friend, Destiny Cato, who is reaching out to federal, state and local leaders for support.

“It’s overwhelming...we are very grateful,” Jack and Patti said, “This is something like this could make someone not want to drink and drive at all, just knowing the possible consequences.”

The Clark’s are asking anyone who supports Samantha’s Law to help by clicking here.

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