Jury recommends 75-years in prison for man found guilty of driving into Iowa basketball recruit and family

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (KCRG) - After a five-day trial, the jury returned a guilty verdict in the murder case of an Indiana man accused of driving into four members of a Kansas family, killing one of them.

Trey Jones died in the crash. His daughter, a former Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball recruit, suffered a traumatic brain injury and had to medically retire from basketball before she could play for the Hawkeyes.

Ava’s mother, Amy, was also seriously injured and needed multiple surgeries.

A jury on Monday found Michael Hurley guilty of murder, assault, and DUI.

Prosecutors say Hurley was high on fentanyl when he crashed into the Jones family as they walked in downtown Louisville in July 2022.

A jury on Tuesday morning recommended 75 years in prison for Hurley.

WAVE News in Louisville, Kentucky reports this is not Hurley’s first crime.

Hurley was convicted on felony drug charges in Indiana in 2023. He received a suspended sentence and is currently on probation. In this case, the prosecution wants to use those Indiana charges as a sentence enhancement, which could weigh into his parole eligibility.

A final sentencing hearing will be scheduled for Friday, Dec. 13, at 10 a.m.