A 28 year old Spartanburg man will have to serve most of a 28 year prison sentence for running from the car that caught fire during a police chase, leaving his 19-month-old daughter inside it to die.
Imhotep Norman pleaded guilty Tuesday to homicide by child abuse and failure to stop for blue lights. He was also charged with drug trafficking; possession with intent to distribute crystal meth, oxycodone, amphetamine and prescription Xanax. Spartanburg County prosecutors told the judge Norman led troopers on a high-speed chase in April of 2019 from Highway 14 near John Dodd Road to I-85 where the fire started. That's where he baled out of the car and ran. He was tracked to a wooded area nearby. In the meantime, firefighters found the little girl's body still in her car seat.
Norman later told authorities he thought she'd be rescued by the Highway Patrol before the fire reached her. The judge ordered Norman to serve at least 85-percent of the sentence before he'll be eligible for parole.
