Driver Who Killed State Patrol Cadet Given Life Sentence: 'If I Could Take It Back I Would'
BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - A driver was sentenced to life in prison without parole for killing a Colorado state trooper last year.
Christopher Gebers was given the mandatory life sentence Tuesday morning following his conviction of first-degree murder in September. He was also sentenced to an additional 342 years for 13 other counts related to the crash that killed Colorado State Patrol Cadet Taylor Thyfault.
Gebers fatally hit Thyfault, 21, in May 2015 while eluding police on Highway 66. Trooper Clinton Rushing was also hit and nearly killed. Rushing was among those who addressed the court Tuesday for Gebers' sentencing. He described his serious injuries, including a fractured pelvis, arms and legs, and said he didn't know Thyfault before that tragic day.
"I knew nothing about him until that morning when I picked him up," Rushing said. "But in just 2 1/2 minutes, I knew he was a good man and going to be a good trooper."
Rushing went on to say he does not remember the crash and only recalled waking up four days later with his family by his side.
"Christopher Gebers will never have to experience that kind of pain," Rushing said. "And, worst of all not knowing what happened. Not knowing that a man you were supposed to be responsible for had died that day."
Thyfault's grandmother also read a letter he wrote to his mom when he was in high school.
"'We've been through some tough times and that is the truth,'" Linda Thyfault read. "'And I admire your strength as you seem to come out stronger every time.'"
Carol Adler, Taylor's mom, raised her son as a single mother. She attended every day of the grueling trial and used the sentencing as a place to describe her son to the judge. Adler said her only child knew what he wanted to be since he was 4 years old.
"He wanted to build his muscles," Adler said with a smile, sharing that Thyfault went on to join the Army before being accepted into the Colorado State Patrol. "He didn't get to meet his end goal of being the best of the best, of protecting those who need protecting. Unfortunately, it got taken from him."
Then, Adler addressed her son's killer.
"I will forever be his mom, but do you know how hard it is to be a mom when you don't get to see your child every day? When you don't get to hear your child every day? It's heartbreaking," she said.
Before the sentence was given, Gebers apologized to the Thyfault family and State Patrol.
"I am sorry. If I could take it back I would," he said. "If I could go back to the time and pull over, it would be no questions asked. I made an unfair choice and I'm sorry."
Fellow troopers also said the sentencing was extremely difficult as Colorado State Patrol is once again grieving the loss of one of their own. Trooper Cody Donahue was killed in the line of duty last Friday while investigating an accident. His funeral is Friday.
Watch the complete testimony by family, friends, victims and the Colorado State Patrol in the Gebers trial in the video clip below:
Kelly Werthmann joined the CBS4 team in 2012 as the morning reporter, covering national stories like the Aurora Theater Shooting and devastating Colorado wildfires. She now anchors CBS4 Weekend Morning News and reports during the week. Connect with her on Facebook or Twitter @KellyCBS4.
