Circuit Judge Christopher France Monday sentenced Tyler Wayne Dutton to nine years in prison followed by five years’ probation in the death of 25-year-old Jordan Marie Rineer on U.S. 1 in October 2015.
Dutton, 27, who’d previously had his license revoked, had been drinking in Daytona Beach with Rineer the night of October 26, 2015. He was driving home drunk after midnight the next morning at the wheel of a 2008 Toyota Tacoma when he fell asleep at the wheel.
The vehicle veered into the median just past Old Dixie Highway and overturned several times. Rineer was ejected and died at the scene of severe head injuries. Dutton got out of the car and flagged down a passing vehicle, which happened to be a Flagler County sheriff’s deputy. Dutton told the deputy he’d fallen asleep while driving.
Dutton was lightly injured and treated at what was then Florida Hospital Flagler (now AdventHealth Palm Coast). His eyes were “bloodshot and glassy” when a Florida Highway Patrol trooper found him at the hospital, according to the warrant prepared to draw Dutton’s blood, and his speech was slurred. Dutton had refused to provide a blood sample voluntarily and would not give a statement to troopers.
While a blood draw was being prepared, Dutton tried to flee the hospital.
Based on what his arrest report describes as a “retrograde extrapolation calculation,” Dutton’s blood-alcohol level was estimated at between 0.11 and 0.18, with his medical records showing his actual blood-alcohol level at 0.13 when he was tested, with an alcohol elimination rate assumed to be between 0.01 and 0.025 per hour. The case was investigated by FHP’s traffic homicide investigator Pete Young.
Dutton was arrested in 2013 for driving on a revoked or suspended license, and the previous year on an obstruction of justice charge. In 2011, Bunnell police arrested him after he got into a confrontation with a woman at the Ice House Bar in Bunnell. The woman left the bar, but according to his arrest report, he and another woman followed her in an SUV to her house, where the woman allegedly grabbed her hair and Dutton punched her, then dragged her by the hair as the woman started to drive the SUV away. Initially charged with a felony and a misdemeanor, Dutton eventually pleaded no contest to battery.
After his arrest on the DUI manslaughter charge, Dutton was arrested in Bunnell for illegally carrying a rifle openly. He said he was marking hunting sites for deer season, but he was walking in a residential neighborhood, and did not have a concealed weapons permit. He pleaded no contest.
Rineer was born in Lancaster, Pa. Her parents moved to Palm Coast when she was very young, in 1997, then moved back to Pennsylvania years later. She had been part of the first graduating class at Matanzas High School in 2009. Rineer had been visiting the area and was due back in Lancaster in a matter of days.
Dutton’s driver’s license is permanently revoked. He is eligible for release from prison after serving just over seven and a half years. He could be released in the summer of 2026. He will then be eligible to request an end to his probation two and a half years later, if he follows all of probation’s terms.
rst says
This conviction didn’t happen by chance. Another job well done by FHP Master Corporal Peter G. Young…
Ben Hogarth says
As a younger man myself, but older than Dutton, I don’t understand why people can be so wreckless with their lives and others in their care. In addition, I have to humbly impress upon every parent to teach their kids about right and wrong and to never get in a vehicle with someone behind the wheel who is impaired in any way – this includes alcohol or just being overly tired, which can be even more dangerous. Her family now has to find a way to heal and get closure, but I wonder how many young women we can reach and show them that the types of guys like Dutton are not “cool” or winners. Let this story among so many other tragedies, be a lesson to young women that being around men who make bad decisions will only turn out badly for them. This guy has obviously had enough issues with the law to warrant locking him up permanently, but it’s scary to think one day he will be eligible for release and could do this all over again to another families daughter.
How is that just?
Again says
About damn time! Have fun drinking in there ! You deserve everything you’ve got coming !
Anonymous says
Justice for her family ❤ he deserves everything that is coming his way I’m sorry!
Missi says
I knew them both an Jordan was a great person was here to help, Tyler well I predicted this since he was 12 he never was held accountable for anything he ever did ran wild not any supervision ! He had no remorse he should have gotten more time!
hawkeye says
In my opinion this sentence is a little light for this piece of shit, I hope he has a real hard time in prison.
palmcoaster says
Very sad (and could have been preventable)tragedy in these two young people’s lives.
Richard says
Another Flagler County loser who should be locked up for a very LONG time. It’s obvious that any rehabilitation will be useless on this loser.
Concerned Citizen says
9 years for a life permanently taken? Seems kind of light. When will judges start sentencing harsher?
Anonymous says
Sad story, but the sentence is appropriate. The woman got into the car with him. Harsher punishment would be reserved for example for someone DUI who hit a different car and killed people who were sober and weren’t involved with him. You could put him away for life, but it’s not going to address the problem of America’s drinking and driving culture.
Oh well says
Let’s see how many of you people commented on this article have never done anything wrong. Step up to the plate and tell everyone who you are. If you are not able to you need to apologize and shut your mouth.
Trailer Bob says
Rest in PEACE Jordan. So sorry for the family.
Steve says
Practice whatcha preach “Oh Well” lol