A Madison County judge sentenced Sara Brianne Oleson to 25 years in prison Thursday for the reckless murder of 13-year-old Kallel “Kal” Fox, who was struck and killed while riding his bicycle in south Huntsville last year.
Oleson, 34, entered a blind guilty plea in August to the Class A felony charge stemming from the Aug. 5, 2025, crash at the intersection of Bailey Cove Road and Green Mountain Road. Prosecutors said she was speeding, ran a red light and was under the influence of multiple substances when she hit Fox, who was legally crossing the street on his bike. Investigators found substances in her vehicle at the scene, according to court records.
Fox, an eighth-grader at Mountain Gap Middle School, was a National Honor Society member, saxophone player and competitive mountain biker who placed second in the state in his first season. He was known for his kindness and impact on classmates and teachers.
Brian Fox, Kal’s father, told reporters after the sentencing that the outcome brought a measure of relief.
“I’m very relieved. We were hoping for 20 years and a day or more, and thanks to the judge for going for 25. That ensures just a greater period of time behind bars,” he said, according to WAFF 48.
Family members from both sides addressed the court. Kal’s relatives spoke about the lives he touched and the future cut short. Oleson’s brother told the judge the family had endured a difficult childhood and that she had been working to better herself. Both families acknowledged the crash permanently altered their lives.
Oleson’s defense attorney, Michael Whisonant, said at the August plea hearing that she entered the blind plea — meaning no negotiated sentence agreement — to spare the Fox family the trauma of a trial. He described the crash as a tragedy that also affected Oleson’s family, including her young daughter, and said she had been dealing with personal trauma and self-medicating.
“There is nothing more tragic than the loss of a child,” Whisonant said at the time, when speaking to WHNT News 19. “The best way we can apologize is by pleading guilty, and that’s what Sara Oleson did today.”
Brian Fox has said the legal process moved faster than many similar cases and that seeing Oleson taken into custody after the plea was meaningful for the family. He has previously spoken about wanting to honor Kal’s memory through service and community efforts, including a scholarship fund that would support Shred for Sloan and other initiatives.
A permanent memorial for Kal, including a bench, bell and stone, was dedicated in May near the crash site and the greenway he loved to ride. Community members have also pushed for safer pedestrian and cyclist conditions in the area.
Oleson was indicted on the reckless murder charge in November 2025. She remained free on bond until her plea. The 25-year sentence exceeds the 10-year minimum for the Class A felony.
Zachary Austin is a writer for 256 Today. You can contact him at [email protected].
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