By Shannon Lukens.
Steven O’Brien was sentenced in Routt County Court Thursday in the Vehicular Homicide death of 34-year-old Emily Tintrup Dealy, and the Aggravated Vehicular Unlawful Termination of a Pregnancy. Those are two charges of the original 13 filed. O’Brien was sentenced to 10 years of supervised probation, 90 days in jail, and 96 hours of public service. The conviction for Vehicular Homicide is a mandatory and immediate suspension of his driver’s license, as well, for a minimum period at least one year according to Colorado Law. The DMV will decide if longer.
The District Attorney’s office says the plea offer and resolution of the case came after “serious and ongoing conversations with Dealy’s husband, Michael Dealy, and her family, who wished to see the matter resolved short of trial.”
The crash was July 23, 2023, on Highway 40, just west of Steamboat Springs. The Dealy’s dog, Gracy, also was killed.
O’Brien pled guilty on Dec. 31, 2024. Judge O’Hara was prepared to sentence him that day but O’Brien gave short notice of the upcoming plea so the District Attorney’s office asked to wait until Jan. 9 so the family could attend and speak.
Friends and relatives were allowed to give an impact statement at the sentencing Thursday. They did that online, via Webex.
Emily’s mother, Andrea Tintrup, spoke first, and told of the enormity of what happened and how Emily needs to “be remembered and honored, as she was a true angel.”
Their family was together when her son received the phone call from the hospital that Emily had died, and she could tell from his face that something terrible had happened.
She said Emily would call her every morning on her way to work to talk on the drive. She said, “Every morning, I wake up knowing there will be no phone call.”
She said Emily moved to Colorado with her husband but promised to visit her mom every three months. On the last visit, they were walking on a beach and she told her mom that she was expecting a child. “The pure joy in her words and the look on her face will always be in my mind’s eye. (That trip) was the last time I saw her.”
Andrea Tintrup also told Steven O’Brien that he was a “worthless, pathetic excuse for a man.” And she said, “I can only hope her killer understands what a horrific thing he has done.”
She said Emily’s death has killed a huge part of her family and that, “Life will never be the same.”
She wants people to know that regardless of a person’s resources, people should know that if they’re thinking of committing this act, they should be severely punished, and that “Emily and her son were thoughtlessly and senselessly murdered.”
Tintrup conluded with, “I will carry her beautiful, kind, and loving spirit with me in my heart and soul for the rest of my days.”
Laura Deoliveira also spoke. She was Emily’s best friend since childhood. Emily and her husband, Michael, met at her wedding. “There are not enough words to adequately express the depth of the heartache and despair that I have been forced to live with since her tragic passing.”
Deoliveira added, “I feel so lucky that I got to watch her grow into the kindest, most beautiful woman with the most unbelievable capacity to love so fully and see the good in this world.”
Kate Goldsmith is Emily’s sister, calling Emily a “sunflower to everyone who met her; healthy and vibrant, and nourishing her baby.”
“She was so excited for her future, one we now mourn.”
Goldsmith brought up that O’Brien took 550 days to assume any responsibility for what he did, when he pled guilty on Dec. 31.
She spoke of her children and how they will miss their aunt. “May we all heal as we just simply try to keep going.”
Jesse Tintrup is Emily’s brother. He said since their father died of cancer when they were younger, they agreed to be each other’s emergency contact so their mom would not have to do it. He says the day the nurse called him from the hospital haunts him constantly. His mom saw his face when he got the call and knew that something awful had happened. The screaming of the family was so bad that it haunts him still. He had to continue that day to “live through this nightmare by calling friends and family and reliving the hell.”
He said Emily was the “glue that held so many relationships together. Every holiday, birthday, and family get-together is now clouded by the loss of Emily and her unborn son.”
He added that no one will ever truly understand the loss unless you met Emily.
“We are forced to go on with our lives but mine will never be the same. The damage is done.”
Michael Dealy, Emily’s husband spoke last. He said, “Emily will always be my soulmate. That’s something I will never doubt. She was the brightest light in this world. She was the best of us. She was the kindest, most caring and loving person I have ever known.”
He spoke of her job as a pre-school teacher at Steamboat Montessori, and she was a private chef for a local family, and how she loved to travel and she loved her family and friends.
Michael Dealy was driving when O’Brien’s truck went head-on into his. He said he was conscious the entire time and afterwards. He said he held Emily in his arms for ten minutes until the First Responders arrived. She was not alive.
He said their dog, Gracy, was crushed to death in the back seat.
“The memory haunts all of my days and nights.”
He said O’Brien must be held accountable for the choices he made that caused this. “We’ve all been robbed.”
Dealy closed with, “Please let this be a constant reminder to you about how precious life is. I will never stop loving Emily, our son, and Gracy.”
Deputy District Attorney Joseph Bucci then told of what happened that day, and how there was not any adverse weather on Hwy 40. He said there was a previous report of bad driving three hours before and it was the same truck as O’Brien’s. He said there was no braking and no sudden steering during impact of the head-on collision on O’Brien’s vehicle. He said O’Brien has no previous criminal convictions, but he did have at least four speeding tickets, and a ticket for following too closely, and several for driving an unsafe or affected vehicle.
O’Brien’s attorney, Mr. Steinberg, added that 66-year-old O’Brien, from Littleton, has no criminal history, he is a family man, and he is a grandfather, and that “This has really affected him.” He said he was taking prescribed medication and “He understands what he has done and has felt tremendous remorse. He has tremendous sorrow, regret, and remorse for the loss.”
O’Brien also spoke to the courtroom and Emily’s family. “I do feel terrible about what happened. Words cannot say the way I feel.” He said he has a lot of sleepless nights, adding, “I’m sorry. I’m just very, very sorry.”
Judge Michael A. O’Hara III, explained that this was a plea agreement, and that had O’Brien gone forward with the trial scheduled for last week, and been found guilty, he would have faced prison time.
Judge O’Hara spoke of the irresponsible use of drugs and alcohol, and how that includes prescription drugs, “and that is what happened here.” He added, “I wouldn’t have nearly as much to do as a judge.”
He told the Dealy family, “I’m sorry you are having to live through this and this day.”
Judge O’Hara noted that O’Brien will be 76 years old when he finishes probation and his behavior will be monitored. Probation terms are standard, such as not violating any law, meet with his probation officer, and not carry a weapon. If O’Brien breaks probation, he could also go to prison.
There will be an alcohol evaluation and substance use testing and he must comply with any recommended treatment. He must attend a Victim Impact Panel and do 96 hours of Community Service.
Judge O’Hara spoke of the sentencing and the many people he has sentenced “for the rest of their lives as a judge.” He spoke of how O’Brien must comply with the sentencing conditions, “which are very favorable for you.”
He said he is limited by law on the amount of time for incarceration which is 90 days, which he immediately added to the sentence. “Ninety days in the Routt County Jail is appropriate,” added O’Hara.
He added, “My job is to make sure the community hears that there are consequences in making decisions like this.”
Restitution will be handled outside of court. Other charges are $13,127.50 which include a $5,000 fine, and $6,000 for probation supervision fees.
Judge O’Hara instructed O’Brien to contact the Probation Department before the end of day, contact the clerk’s office to speak arrange the payment, and to talk to booking in the Routt County Jail, where he is to surrender any time between now and 4 p.m. at the latest, next Friday, Jan. 17.
More on the Story — Steamboat Montessori mourns loss of Pre-School Director in fatal crash
Press Release from the 14th Judicial District; Jan. 9, 2025.
Routt County, Colorado –
On December 31, 2024, Steven O’Brien pled guilty to Vehicular Homicide, a class 3 felony, and Aggravated Vehicular Unlawful Termination of Pregnancy, a class 4 felony, related to a fatal traffic crash that occurred on July 23, 2023, on US-40 in Routt County, Colorado that caused the death of Emily Tintrup Dealy and her unborn child. Today, O’Brien was sentenced to 10 years of supervised probation, 90 days jail, 96 hours of useful public service and other standard terms of probation. O’Brien’s driver’s license will be revoked as a result of these convictions, and he will be a convicted felon.
The plea offer and resolution of this case was the result of serious and ongoing conversations with Emily Tintrup Dealy’s husband, Michael Dealy, and her family, who wished to see the matter resolved short of trial.
The 14th Judicial District Attorney’s Office wishes to thank the Colorado State Patrol Vehicular Crimes Unit and Trooper Bryan Herston for their thorough investigation of this matter which allowed charges to be brought, and convictions secured in this matter.
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