Missouri woman involved in Capitol riot receives 10-year sentence for fatal DWI crash

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Mo. - A Missouri woman who was charged with being a participant in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and was pardoned recently by U.S. Pres. Donald Trump was sentenced to 10 years in prison for causing a fatal drunk-driving crash in 2022.

Emily Elyse Hernandez, 26, who listed 2415 Highway AF, Sullivan, as an address, was charged with felony driving while intoxicated, causing the death of another, not a passenger; and felony driving while intoxicated causing serious personal injury.

Hernandez was arrested in January 2022 after the crash on Interstate 44 in Franklin County, court records indicate.

She pleaded guilty to both charges on Nov. 5, 2024, in Franklin County Circuit Court, according to official records.

A 32-year-old Saint Clair woman, Victoria Wilson, was killed in the crash, according to reports.

Wilson's husband, Ryan Wilson, 36 at the time of the crash, was seriously injured according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The couple had just celebrated their 15-year wedding anniversary at the time of the crash, reports state.

Regarding the Capitol riot, Hernandez was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct which impedes the conduct of government business; stealing, selling, conveying, or disposing of U.S. property; disruptive conduct in the capitol buildings; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in the capitol buildings in connection to her activity at the insurrection, and called her behavior, "ungodly."

She was photographed holding a piece of a sign from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office, reports indicate.

Her charges were amended to one misdemeanor count of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, according to reports.

Regarding the fatal crash, Hernandez was represented by Saint Louis attorney Ethan Boyan Corlija, court records state.

Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Charles Becker represented the state, according to official records.

Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Ryan J. Helfrich presided.