Matthew Ellmers Sentenced

June 30, 2009 - An emotional day for family and friends of the victims in a deadly car crash earlier this year. Matthew Ellmers, the man who drove drunk and killed 4 people and injured a child changed his plea to guilty today and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

In Court Tuesday a tearful Matthew Ellmers admitted he drove drunk, ran a red light and crashed into an SUV one January night. Nima Gibba, Connie and Jaziah Vermilyea, and Heather Mulgrave were killed. Heather’s son Jakobi was seriously injured. Ellmers will spend the next 20 years in prison. For the victim’s family and friends, no sentence is long enough. Before the sentencing, Nima Gibba’s mother told Ellmers “Although there is a date you can look forward to when society considers your debt paid, my sentence is to suffer for the rest of my life. I will never again see Nima. I will never see her dressed up for her high school prom or graduation. I will never see her walk down the aisle.” Connie Vermilyea’s best friend told me by phone “I’m really torn by that…. What he took from me I can’t get back in 20 years, what he took from Connie’s grandfather, who was her closest family member, he can’t get back in 20 years.” Before he was sentenced, Ellmers said he intends to educate people about the consequences of drinking and driving. He said “I believe I have found a purpose. I can’t let these people die in vain. I have to do everything possible to prevent this from happening again.” He turned to face the victim’s family and friends, and apologized.

Ellmers faced a maximum sentence of 46 years in prison if he served his sentences consecutively. Instead, Judge Billings sentenced Ellmers to 20 years in prison, allowing him to serve some of them at the same time. He is not eligible for early release.