Ashlynn Bailey was just a 20-year-old student at The University of Alabama when Rodrigus Lee Pearson sold her a lethal dose of fentanyl.

In a U.S. district court, Pearson was sentenced to 20 years for his role in her death. The sentence was handed down as part of a plea agreement made between the prosecution and defense. Officials cite the severity of the sentence to prosecutors ability to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the drugs Pearson sold Bailey were the ones that actually caused her death. Normally this type of proof is hard to come, however, since fentanyl is such a power synthetic opioid prosecutors were about to make a strong case.

But in an interesting turn of events, the largest story of the day turned out to be the mercy of a father, rather than the justice of a court.

Standing before the man convicted of selling his daughter the drugs that killed her, Mike Bailey chose to forgive Pearson. In a statement given before the court, Bailey said:

“We extend forgiveness to you for the wrongs against our family in the same way that Christ has forgiven our wrongs, even without asking for that forgiveness.”

The family has created a foundation in the name of Ashlynn, with the hopes that it can help pay for others struggling with addiction, and get them the help they need.

While willing to forgive Pearson, Bailey maintained the need for accountability, stating:

“I think he needs to be held accountable. . . But I don’t want him to feel any less of a person in God’s eyes.”

About the Author: Chris Simmons is a graduate of the University of Alabama and currently a student Cumberland School of Law