Ariana Zarse
11/07/2000 – 10/09/2021

Who was Ariana Zarse? I was asked to share from a parent’s point of view who my daughter was. For her this would be easy to put words to paper. For me, not so much. Someone asked me how I would describe her, what comes to mind? She was so many things, but a few include:

  • Determined

  • Relentless

  • Adaptable

  • Energetic

  • Joyful

  • Strong

One of the most difficult tasks I had after she was killed by a hit and run driver back on October 9th, 2021, was preparing for the trial. I reached out to her friends, past coaches, and teachers for official Victim Impact Statements. The hope was to share them with the court at the conclusion of the criminal trial that was held back in September 2022 prior to sentencing. Her fifth-grade teacher captures perfectly from a young age some of Ariana’s unique qualities:

“In a world full of hate be the light” Ariana Zarse was that light. In my teaching career of 34 years, my time with Ariana was so unique it will always be remembered. She would walk through the front door every day with abundant, enthusiastic, positive energy. By the time she made her way to my door, there was a chain of kids who had grabbed her hand or simply wanted to be in her presence.”

“In a place that needs a change, make a difference” If Ariana Zarse was here, she would!

The way she was as a 10-year-old set the tone as she matured. She loved being engaged in things that meant something, things that mattered. For those who knew her, whether when she was younger or as she grew up, she just had a way of making things better. She had a level of optimism that “just was”.

It didn’t matter if it were school, sorority, social, or work she made an impression. She somehow had a way of making a presence. People just knew her. Another example of this can be seen at the first place she worked in Athens, Sauce House. She started working there during the height of COVID and “just figured it out”. The people she worked with have shared amazing stories about her, things I would have never imagined. They miss her and that can be seen by the pictures they have of her behind the bar (see below). She made a difference.

Unfortunately, Ariana was killed by a hit and run driver on October 9, 2021. They know there were two occupants in the vehicle (boyfriend and girlfriend). The driver didn’t stop, nor did the passenger. Neither called for aid. They ran. Furthermore, they were assisted by family and friends. They were all involved in and orchestrated a series of lies that resulted in no being held accountable for her death.

-They had the car
-They had video
-They had Ariana’s DNA on the Honda Accord
-They had the defendant’s and the girlfriend’s DNA on the driver’s side of the vehicle and the girlfriend’s vomit on the passenger side (tied to her via DNA). But they had NOTHING that absolutely put the driver behind wheel at the time of the crash.

What is still difficult to understand is how anyone who was involved (beyond the defendant) was never charged.

  • The families falsely reported the car stolen

  • They assisted in picking up the defendant and the passenger after the damaged car was abandoned in a nearby apartment complex

  • They failed to meet with the prosecution

  • They perjured themselves on the witness stand

  • The defendant and the families were lifelong friends

    No one was held accountable. They failed to do the right thing and got away with it! The defendant was found NOT GUILTY on all charges. The vehicle was a 2008 Honda Accord. There were ONLY 2 people in the vehicle, yet the prosecution was unable to get a conviction. Maybe the Honda was ahead its time and “driving itself”. Until I was sitting in that courtroom, watching 5 days of testimony (it’s NOTHING like what you see on TV), the fact there was no justice is beyond disappointing. The prosecution just failed to present a strong case. The prosecution was ‘out gunned’. After the prosecution rested, the defense did not call a single witness. That says it all. The jury wanted “irrefutable” evidence of someone’s guilt. If the jury cared even a little about justice, they would have not rendered a verdict in under 3 hours (which included lunch and selecting a foreperson).

    Most people have a “love affair” with automobiles. There were 6516 pedestrian/automobile related deaths in 2020. Rarely does it make the news. What is worse is most drivers (aka the jurors) can potentially see themselves as the defendant. One of the charges against the defendant was “driving without a license”. Even this charge was dismissed because of the prosecutions inability to prove who was driving.

    This tragedy was completely preventable. The defendant was out on bond for multiple charges, including driving while intoxicated and without a license in another county from August 2020.

Had that county brought the defendant to trial in a timely manner he would not have been driving in Athens in October 2021.

The behavior of the defendant and his family inside and outside of the courtroom was deplorable. Witnesses were threatened by his family, yet the jury was never informed. Additionally, the defendant was able to high five and blow kisses throughout the day and at the end of the day tell them “To drive safe”. These are things I will never be able to do or say to Ariana, ever again.

The legal process in America is broken. The defendant has more rights than the victim. The defendant’s family has more rights than the victim or the victim’s family. The victim, who cannot defend herself, ends up being put on trial for her behavior when she was doing nothing wrong. This needs to change, our laws need to change, and the legal process needs to change.

Unfortunately, nothing will bring Ariana back. We need take this tragedy and find ways to prevent another family from experiencing everything I and Ariana’s friends and family have and continue to endure. I am working with numerous organizations to implement some type of prosecution oversight, to identify and implement improvements at the crosswalk where Ariana was killed, and finally working with the SafeD Athens group to enact further safety protocols that will benefit the entire community.

No parent should endure the loss of a child like I have and NOT have anyone held accountable. In Ariana’s memory a scholarship has been established at the University of Georgia. The specifics are provided below. Thank you for the outpouring of support I have received and continue to receive to this day. None of us will ever forget Ariana and we will continue to fight for the justice she deserves.

Thank you! Jeffrey Zarse

University of Georgia Foundation by credit card at this link: https://gail.uga.edu/commit?search=90467000, indicate “in memory of Ariana Zarse”

Or by check made payable to:
“University of Georgia Foundation in memory of Ariana Zarse” and mailed to: UGA Foundation
1 Press Place, Suite 101
Athens, GA 30601