‘A smile that lit the room’: Family honors Tarius Allen after fatal DUI sentencing

LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - It’s been more than four years since a Liberty County family heard their loved one’s voice. Monday, they learned the woman responsible for his death will spend around the same amount of time behind bars.

“That smile just did something to you. If you didn’t know him, you would want to know him,” said Tarius’s mother and Father, Melvis and Curtis.

That’s how family members remember 39-year-old Tarius O’Neal Allen. Nearly four and a half years ago, his light was tragically extinguished.

Allen was just two miles from home—driving along Highway 84 near Barrett Cemetery Road— when he was hit and killed by 35-year-old Megan Victoria Jacobs, who was driving under the influence of alcohol and other substances.

Allen was later transported to Liberty Regional Medical Center in Hinesville, where he passed.

“I wish this upon no one because it’s very, very hard,” said Melvis Allen, Tarius’s mother.

On Monday, in a Liberty County courtroom, Jacobs accepted a plea deal---Four years in prison, eight years probation.

Jacobs is required to go through a substance abuse program after she completes her prison sentence. She has to pay thousands in court fines and cannot commit any crimes while on probation.

She did speak briefly in court during sentencing, apologizing to the Allen family.

“Justice wasn’t done. We got justice. But justice wasn’t done. But this is the system that we have,” said Curtis Allen.

A sentence shorter than the time Tarius has already been gone. His family had hoped for 8 to serve, 7 on probation.

His sister spoke in court about the pain of saying goodbye to her brother in a casket, and how the grass now quietly grows over his grave.

“Going out to his stone to visit and talk to him. You know, to go out there and cry a little bit too,” said Tarius’s mother.

“Him being gone, it doesn’t get easier with time. Not one bit. There’s a void that could never be filled,” said Tarius’s younger brother, Bryson.

Now, the Allens are left with memories—and the ache of what could have been.

He was the best big brother. He was a friend, my best friend. He was a great uncle, an amazing person. If his life wouldn’t have been extinguished, he would have been an even better father. Still, he didn’t have that opportunity. He was a pillar in his community. Lots of friends. During his funeral, the amount of people that showed up... I haven’t seen that many people before, and from all different walks of life too.

Tarius’s younger brother, Bryson.

“There’s a void that could never be filled. But there are times when it’s like I can just reach out and touch him. You know, like I see him. And I’ll reach for him, but then there’s nothing to touch. But I see him, I see him just smiling. ‘Dad, it’s okay.’ He said, ‘Dad, it’s okay. We’re going to be alright. Just take care of mom,” said Tarius’s dad.

Through the pain, the Allens say they’ll continue honoring Tarius each day—remembering the joy he brought.

“Being a military family, it was always just us. But once we got here to Hinesville, it wasn’t just us anymore. We had friends. He had friends. Yeah, it gave us a chance to establish roots and build within the community. And with that, our reach just spread, so. And he was a loving son. Loving, very loving son. Very caring,” said Tarius’s parents in unison.

“Just the way he lived his life—and it was a good life. Yes. It was a very good life," reiterated his mother.