Intoxicated driver who struck, killed WU student sentenced - Student Life

Intoxicated driver who struck, killed WU student sentenced

Phillip Cise, 51, has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty in the death of Washington University student Gabby Reuveni.

Reuveni, a 20-year-old junior at the time of her death, was struck and killed by a pickup truck while jogging near her family vacation home in Pocono, Penn., on July 14, 2012. Almost three years later, on July 10, the truck’s driver, Cise, pleaded guilty to “homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence,” one of seven charges brought against him.

Under the plea agreement, Cise will be sentenced to three-to-six years in prison and will be under supervised probation for an additional four. Cise has served just over two years in a Pennsylvania prison, which will count toward his sentence.

In the summer of 2012, Reuveni, who was on the track and cross-country teams at Washington University, had been running the same path at the same time six days a week. At the time of the accident, Cise was seen driving erratically across the road’s double lines and swerving before hitting Reuveni from behind.

A toxicology report revealed the presence of the drug gabapentin in his system, for which he did not have a prescription. Gabapentin is primarily prescribed to epileptic patients to combat convulsions and nerve pain. It can cause dizziness, blurred or impaired vision, and trembling.

Reuvini’s murder was the culmination of a two-week crime spree during which Cise was arrested three times.

Earlier that month, police say, Cise harassed employees at Donald Trump’s private golf course in Bedminster, N.J. On July 2, he terrorized a McDonald’s drive-thru customer, striking the hood of her car with a weapon multiple times before running inside, demanding free food and terrorizing more customers and an employee. He was arrested but later released.

Five days after that incident, Cise was arrested again after stealing a truck out of a driveway, telling police that he intended to wash it. He was ultimately apprehended 32 hours after hitting Reuveni when he hit a utility pole with his car and police who arrived at the scene discovered his outstanding warrant.

Medical experts involved with his case said that Cise shows signs of schizoaffective and bipolar disorders. Last year, the case was delayed when Cise stopped taking his medications and was subsequently declared not competent to stand trial. This April, after getting back on his medications, he was ruled competent and his case continued.

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