San Juan County man sentenced to 15 years in prison after 5-year-old girl's death in 2022

Lina PortmanMay 30, 2024

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A San Juan County man was sentenced Wednesday after crashing a stolen truck and causing the death of the 5-year-old passenger in 2022, according to the district attorney's office.

Qwana McCook, 30, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $250,000 in restitution. McCook admitted to stealing a truck from a victim — whose five-year-old daughter was in the back seat — and crashing it, ejecting and killing the child.

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According to the Department of Justice, McCook pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and robbery in March 2024. The crimes occurred on the White Mesa Indian Reservation.

The DOJ said McCook took a vehicle from the victim's mother without her permission while she was on the reservation. A news release says McCook didn't bring the child home, bought alcohol and began drinking and driving.

When he crashed, he was traveling at high speed. The child was ejected after the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene.

“This case is a horrific reminder that carjackings threaten the lives of innocent victims,” said United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah. “McCook’s senseless actions are reprehensible and caused the terrible death of a young girl.”

Higgins said his office would continue to “vigorously pursue” those who threaten Utah communities with violence.

“McCook’s extremely selfish decisions that day will forever impact a family grieving the loss of their young daughter,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the FBI in Salt Lake City.

McCook's passenger and co-defendant pleaded guilty to error of judgment and will be sentenced at a later date.

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