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Bay area mom concerned the man accused of her daughter's death may not pay for the crime

Posted at 11:20 PM, Sep 21, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-21 23:20:10-04

A mother is fighting for justice after she learned charges could be dropped against the man accused of her daughter's death.

Lacey Thomas was walking with her children in their Brooksville neighborhood in early April when a car slammed into them.

William Perkins was arrested and charged with three counts of driving while license suspended or revoked with serious injury or death.

Thomas' daughter Ava, 4, did not survive. Lacey Thomas said her son, Spencer, almost did not survive and he continues to get better every day. Lacey Thomas said she still suffers pain from her injuries. Her daughter, Tana, was the only one who was not injured.

"It is very hard to believe that I'm not going to see her [Ava] grow up," Lacey Thomas said.

Lacey described her daughter as a shy little girl who loved makeup, hair, dressing up, Ariel, and tagging along with her mother.

"Every now and then I'll see a little girl that looks like her and it just breaks me that I can't have her back," Lacey Thomas said.

Lacey Thomas said she was concerned when she heard Perkins' attorney filed a motion to dismiss the charges against him.

"I think he should pay for it. I don't think he should be allowed to kill a child or anyone for that matter and just get away with it," Lacey Thomas said.

A hearing is scheduled to listen to the 'motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction' filing. The hearing will be held next week on Sept. 27 at 2 p.m.

Lacey Thomas said she wants people to know what happened to her family because she wants to fight for justice.

"Every time we try to take a step forward, he takes 3 more. It just seems like everyone is for him and there's not a whole lot in the justice system for us," Lacey Thomas said.

ABC Action News contacted Perkins' attorney for a comment on the motion he filed. He called us back and declined to comment ahead of the hearing. The state attorney, Bill Catto, told ABC Action News he is filing a response tomorrow.