San Diego, CA
Woman Sentenced For Mission Bay DUI Crash That Killed Friend
SAN DIEGO, CA — A woman who drove under the influence, then left the scene of a crash that trapped her friend in an overturned car submerged in Tecolote Creek was sentenced Friday to 19 years to life in state prison.
Jennifer Rae Xavier, 24, was convicted by a San Diego jury last year of murder, hit-and-run, and other charges for causing the March 4, 2021, crash that killed 21-year-old Sidnie Waller.
Prosecutors alleged that after the women went out to bars in Pacific Beach that night, Xavier got behind the wheel while drunk and under the influence of Xanax.
Waller sent her brother and a friend several text messages prior to the crash which stated that Xavier was drunk and had taken “a bar,” meaning Xanax. The texts stated that Waller was “terrified” because Xavier was swerving, nearly struck other cars and was driving at over 100 miles per hour.
The car veered off southbound Interstate 5 and overturned in the creek below.
Deputy District Attorney Philippa Cunningham said Xavier then walked from the scene of the wreck and onto the freeway while drenched in water and was picked up by a passing motorist who was unaware of the crash.
Responding firefighters pulled Waller from the wreckage. She was taken to a hospital, where she died days later. Xavier was arrested about five months later in connection with the crash.
Xavier’s defense attorney, G. Cole Casey, asked Friday for his client to be sentenced on a gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated count rather than murder, in order to avoid sentencing her to a life term.
Unlike the majority of DUI offenders charged with murder, Xavier did not have a prior DUI conviction, Casey said.
Those convictions typically lead to a “Watson advisement,” in which defendants are informed by the court that they can be charged with murder if they commit another DUI offense and someone dies. Since Xavier did not receive that advisement, Casey argued she should not be sentenced in the same manner as someone with a prior DUI.
Cunningham argued that while Xavier lacked a prior DUI conviction, evidence showed she drove under the influence in 2019 and crashed into another car. The prosecutor said the fatal crash was “not the first time that Jenny Xavier decided to disregard the safety of everyone else for her own benefit.”
In denying the defense’s request, San Diego Superior Court Judge Peter Deddeh noted that Xavier texted a friend after the 2019 crash, in which she described the incident as a “wake up call” and said “I could have killed someone or myself.”
Waller and Xavier were childhood friends from the San Jose area, but both were living in San Diego at the time.
At Xavier’s sentencing hearing, Waller’s mother, Danijela Mosunic, said that as a longtime friend of her daughter, Xavier had even been included in some of their family vacations.
Mosunic said one night, Xavier admitted to her that she’d been involved in several car accidents, including one that occurred while she was under the influence of Xanax and alcohol. Mosunic said she made Xavier promise to never do it again.
“Well, guess what? It did happen again,” Mosunic said. “And this time, you caused a tragic accident that killed your friend, my daughter, who is now gone.”
Waller’s brother, Jacob Waller, said he knew something was wrong after the barrage of text messages he received on the night of March 4. His suspicions deepened on March 5 when he did not receive Sidnie’s daily morning text, a routine in which she sent him an inspirational message each day.
“How could you leave Sidnie to die?” he asked Xavier. “I can only imagine how scared and frightened Sidnie was while trapped underwater not knowing where the exit was. I hope that is what prison is going to feel like for you: no exit.”
Waller’s father, Donald Waller, said that on the night of March 4, he knew the women were going out and told them over the phone, “Be careful, have fun and I love you.” He told Xavier, “You threw out the first thing I said to the both of you, ‘Be careful.’”
Xavier apologized to Waller’s family and friends in attendance and said she would do what she could to be an “advocate” regarding the dangers of drinking and driving.
“I made a reckless choice,” she said. “My reckless choice ultimately took the life of one of the closest friends I’ve ever had …. I’m sorry for the pain and anger you all feel. I’m sorry for taking Sidnie away. There’s nothing I can do to ever make up for this.”
— City News Service
OCEANSIDE — The Frontwave Arena scoreboard showed 23 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Up 16, Francis Parker’s win over Westview High School for the CIF San Diego Section Open Division girls basketball championship was secure.
“No, no, no!” Parker head coach Courtney Clements screamed to freshman guard Jordan Brown, telling her there was no need to score.
So Brown walked the ball up the floor, from the backcourt, across midcourt, a 1,000-watt smile etched across her face.
With no Wolverines defending her, Brown dribbled from side to side across the logo. Then, a fraction of a moment before the final buzzer sounded, Brown flung the basketball high toward the rafters, then was engulfed by teammates.
The job was complete. Parker’s first Open Division title in program history was secure, the final reading 66-50 on Saturday night.
Of those final seconds, said Brown, who scored 23 points. “It was a surreal moment, knowing we worked for this all year long. It’s amazing.”
One reason it was amazing was because the top-seeded Lancers (21-7) were a decided favorite, but were stressed by the sixth-seeded Wolverines (20-9). Led by UC Santa Barbara-bound senior guard Sarah Heyn (18 points in the first half), Westview led 35-28 early in the third quarter.
“I just knew I had to do whatever it took to win,” said Brown. “Whether that was defense or offense. I just wanted to win, period.”
Sparked by its defense, Parker closed the quarter on a 14-0 run. Westview’s final 11 possessions of the quarter ended with five missed shots and six turnovers.
Still, the game wasn’t over. Heyn cut the deficit to 48-44 with just over six minutes to play on a bucket. But with 5:47 to play, Heyn was whistled for her fifth foul on a reach-in.
“Knowing their best player fouled out, we sealed the win,” said Brown.
As for Heyn, who finished with 23 points, she sat on the bench and pulled her jersey over her eyes, hiding tears.
Clements’ thoughts when Heyn fouled out? “I hope we can put this game away now.”
That the Lancers did, outscoring Westview 18-6 down the stretch.
The Lancers’ players and coach were effusive in their praise for Heyn, a four-year starter.
“She’s a great player,” said Brown.
“She played phenomenally,” said Clements. “She played the way you would think a senior would play in a championship game. She played desperately. She played every possession like it was the last 20 seconds of the game. She was extremely impressive. (Heyn buried five 3s, missing only once from deep.) She should be proud of herself.”
Clements was proud of her team for another reason. After blowing out two-time reigning Open Division champion Mission Hills by 26 in the semis, some thought Parker might cruise in the title game.
“I figured it was going to be a fight, and it was,” said Clements. “It was good that our girls had to come together, had to stick together. That’s what this is all about, developing character via the sport of basketball. When the kids face adversity, they have to make a decision. Who do they want to be? They showed the best version of themselves. That’s what I want to remember from a game like this.”
Francis Parker’s primary color is brown, which is fitting for the girls basketball team. They are led not only by the freshman Jordan Brown, but also junior Brieana Brown, a strong, aggressive and athletic 5-foot-11 wing.
Brieana Brown scored 25 points and yanked down a team-best eight rebounds.
About the team in brown being led by the Browns (who are not related), Jordan Brown said: “It’s super cool. I love Bri and our story. So many people think we’re related, that we’re siblings. In reality, we’re not, but we play like it.”
Francis Parker and Westview both will advance to the Southern California Regionals.
Earlier in the season, Clements — who was dressed in all black for the championship game — confessed she wasn’t crazy about Parker’s primary color. Her mood shifted Saturday night.
“Brown’s doing well for me now,” she said.
Asked if Lancers’ Brown squared tandem represents the best one-two girls basketball punch in the San Diego Section, Clements gave the questioner a “What do you think?” smirk.
“That,” said the coach of the Open Division champions, “is a no-brainer.”
Joan Endres
OBITUARY
Born January 1939 in Cincinnati Ohio. Died February 14, 2026, in San Diego, California, with her sons at her side. Her beloved husband Dean passed away in 2010.
Joan was the only child of Thomas and Edna Palmer. In 1943, the family moved to San Diego, where Joan graduated from Helix High School in 1956.
In 1957 Joan married Dean Endres of San Diego, where they raised two sons. Joan followed her two great passions outside the home, the Arts, and Gardening. Both activities being a way to bring beauty to others and to the community.
Joan received a degree in Environmental Design from San Diego State University, and afterwords worked at UCSD, for the Campus Architect.
As an artist, Joan worked in various media, especially ceramics. She was active in many cultural and arts organizations, eventually becoming President of the Combined Organization for the Visual Arts (COVA). Later she turned to gardening, with the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca Community College and the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County.
Joan is survived by her son Jeff and wife Katrin, grandson Jackson, and son Todd Endres, all of La Mesa, and sisters Alice Buck of Phoenix, Elaine Kennedy of San Diego, Nancy and husband Don Jones of Vista, Eva Budzinski of Cloudcroft, New Mexico, and their children and grandchildren.
There will be a Celebration of Life for Joan in the near future. Those who wish to attend should contact celebratejoanuvart@gmail.com to receive details when they are confirmed. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests a donation to the Water Conservation Garden or the Diego Visual Arts Network (SDVAN).
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