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DRAPER -- MaCall Petersen appeared before a state parole board member Tuesday morning saying she was sorry for what happened to her friend and that she wanted to move forward with life. Petersen is serving a 6-year sentence for her role in the June 2005 death of 18-year-old Amelia Sorich, who overdosed on a mix of cocaine and heroin.
Sorich's parents are asking the State's Board of Pardons and Parole not to grant an early release to the girl they say killed their daughter.
MaCall Petersen spoke about the events that took place the night Sorich died. She says the whole time she knew what she was doing was wrong, but she was scared to call police because of her history with the law. Petersen said, "I was very high, and I wasn't thinking. I was being completely selfish."
Petersen was doing drugs with Sorich and admits she injected her friend with drugs. Sorich collapsed in the kitchen and, instead of calling police, Petersen and Jason Calacino took her body to the hills above Bountiful and left her there.
Amelia's parents, Michael and Kathryn Sorich, took turns speaking to the board about their daughter's death and the days while she was missing. They say Petersen didn't help police then and isn't showing enough remorse now. Kathryn Sorich said, "I hope she really does feel remorse, but I really don't feel that she has remorse. I think she just feels sorry she is in jail."
"I would like to see her spend the rest of her sentenced," said Michael Sorich. "That's a short term compared to the sentence my daughter got."
According to prison reports, Petersen has been a good inmate, completing goals while in her substance abuse program and participating in college courses. The board says it will take that into consideration when making its decision which could take two to three weeks.
E-mail: spark@ksl.com
