Rosenda “Rose” Elizabeth Smiley was miraculously born on December 5, 2009. A multiple repeat offender drunk driver stole her life on May 25, 2024, as she was walking through a crosswalk with her friend, Sarah and her stepsister, Alexa.  Rose was killed instantly and her friend, Sarah was injured. The drunk driver had his 8-year-old daughter in the car at the time of the crash.

As tragic and horrific as her ending is, those who love and cherish her deeply choose to focus on the 5,285 days we were blessed to have her on this earth. Rose traveled the world, loved to laugh, and enjoyed having fun. She believed in fairness and justice for both animals and people. She was intelligent, spirited, sweet, funny, beautiful, and witty, with a sharp tongue. Her laugh was contagious, and her smile was like sunshine. Rose was a cuddle bug and affectionate with those she loved. She had opinions and thoughts on things most 14-year-olds do not, with wisdom beyond her years. In the short time she was here, she impacted so many lives and continues to do so as her father fights to reform drunk-driving legislation and street safety.

The drunk driver is charged with a Watson Murder, plus felony DUI, felony child endangerment, and some form of vehicular assault for injuring Sarah.

In California a Watson advisement is given after a first, and every subsequent, driving under the influence conviction. This states that he understood that if he got a DUI with a fatality he could get charged with Murder.

My name is Dr. Fillmore Lewis Smiley IV. I have a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, M.A. in Forensic Psychology, A.A. in Addiction Studies, and B.S. in Business Administration. I hold a LAADC and an APCC. My area of expertise is substance abuse. I am Rose’s father. I am 56 years old. Rose was the light of my life, the center of my universe, the apple of my eye, and my reason for living. Since her death, I have started a charity in her honor to help other suffering families, Rosenda’s Gift. We were able to get May 25th officially designated as Rosenda Smiley Day in California, for all time, by an act of the California Legislature. I have championed Rosenda’s Law, which would reform drunk driving legislation by implementing research-supported interventions. I have also advocated for improved street safety where Rose was murdered, Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach.  My goal is to create social change while creating a legacy for Rose, for she deserves to never be forgotten.

Website: rosendasgift.org

–Fillmore Smiley, Rosenda’s father