HBO drives home the story of a teen and a mistake he’ll never forget

Seventeen-year-old party guy Kevin Tunell celebrated New Year’s 1982 in a big way, with lots of beer and champagne to ring in the new year. When he bragged to friends, “Nothing ever happens to me,� he couldn’t have been more wrong. After insisting he could drive home, his car hit and killed 18-year-old Maggie Glendon.

He was tried and sentenced to probation until he was 21 and community service for a year; his license was also suspended.

But Maggie Glendon’s parents asked for, and received, an additional penalty: Every Friday for the next 18 years, Kevin was to send them a check for $1. Their lawyer said, “What is important is that the Glendons will know that for at least those few minutes it takes to write out a check, at least once a week for the next 18 years, Kevin Tunnell will have to remember the life he took.�

A year later, Kevin didn’t meet his Friday deadline. Then he wrote and sent 17 years’ worth of checks; they were returned. Finally, he stopped the checks, telling his lawyer, “It hurts too much.� In court, the original trial judge reaffirmed the sentence and jailed him for 30 days for contempt of court. Lesson learned.

Lifestories: Families in Crisis, Dead Drunk: The Kevin Tunell Story concludes with an appearance by the real Tunell.

“Lifestories: Families in Crisis, Dead Drunk: The Kevin Tunell Story airs Tuesday at 10:15-10:45 p.m. on HBO. For ages 10 and up.

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