You’re really not surprised by this, are you?
Michael Gagnon and people like him are the reason why there are groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Drunk drivers kill countless people each year with thoughtless behavior that continues to tear families apart day in and day out.
Michael Gagnon might serve some jail time. He might.
His family, who have posted on PYSIH.com, will undoubtedly visit him while he’s in prison.
The surviving family members of the family that Michael Gagnon killed will only be able to visit their deceased relatives at their grave sites. Those people are dead, after all, killed by someone who couldn’t take 2 minutes to find someone sober enough to drive him to Taco Bell to satisfy his late-night junk food craving.
Michael Gagnon has undoubtedly hired a lawyer who has based his practice on defending drunk drivers. As such, he has a pretty good chance of getting a few months in jail, with time off for good behavior. When he gets out, Michael Gagnon will be back on the road.
Maybe sober.
Maybe not.
You don’t really think that justice will be done, do you?
With drunk drivers, it seems like it never is.
The only time drunk driving is even remotely funny is when it’s on a T-shirt.
And that’s coming from a guy whose grandfather, as he was walking to a convenience store for some milk one night was struck and killed by a drunk driver.
Similar Posts:
Wel after all this I am sure that he’ll do a few things differently - like with the lawyer’s bill he’ll get I am sure that he’ll be a good upstanding citizen and return all his empties and any other empties that he can find or get.
He might be in more trouble for resisting arrest / being belligerant than for killing the 5 people he did not mean to kill.
If he gets off, can we send the lawyer to hell?
I am sure that this lawyer is such a slime ball that even Satan himself is afriad of him and like I said before - there is a corner of hell a little deeper, a little darker and a little hotter resevered for those, like lawyers, that even Satan himself does not want to see.
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I looked at the pictures from this and the first story. It looks like he shaved and got rid ofthat Hitler looking mousasche that was below his lips (rather than between his lips and nose like Adolph)
So he’s obviously seen some type of light.
BULLSHIT! His lawyer is telling him to clean up, look like someone who just made a mistake that just happened to have some of the worst possible consequences. I’ll bet that after a few months, Mr. Gagnon will even feel that he’s paid his debt to society!
It seems that the only one who will really get anything from this entire tragedy is Mr. Gagnon’s lawyer. Odds are that Mr. Gagnon’s insurance is minimal and I am sure that Mikey has maxed out any credit cards to pay for the lawyer. It would not surprise me to find out that in a few years (or months) that Mikey files for bankruptcy and guess who is ultamately stuck with the lawyer’s bill?
TAXPAYERS - you, me and Daniel Griffin!
The moer fucked up the system, the more lawyers profit - so don’t expect to see any reform that means anything too soon!
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Wow! This guy is truly a piece of shite. He needs nothing less than a bullet through his pea-brain. Perhaps more bullets for his family as well…
See you in hell, mother fucker
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James your a piece of shite.
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Yeah shite huh? For one, he didn’t hire the lawyer, and for two, what kind of heartless bastard are you saying he will go back to drinking and driving?! You don’t think this has changed him already? He wishes it was him that was dead!
Do you think they don’t let them shower, and shave in jail? Dumbass.
IT WASN’T HIS DECISION TO PLEAD NOT GUILTY! He’s listening to his lawyer, and thats the best thing for him to do, thats what they are there for, right?
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Max The Cat reply on March 26, 2008:
Ya Know, it’s good to be loyal to a friend, but maybe you should pick your friends better.
Let’s just say that if I was Mike, I’d like to believe I would plead guilty and take my punishment like a man. Anything else is a cop out, and I think you know that…..
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Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe a person charged with a crime is ultimately responsible for their own defense decisions — a lawyer cannot force them to make this plea or that plea if they do not want to. So yes, it was Michael Gagnon’s decision to plead not guilty. He may have been following the advice of his lawyer, but he didn’t have to do that.
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“IT WASN’T HIS DECISION TO PLEAD NOT GUILTY! He’s listening to his lawyer, and thats the best thing for him to do, thats what they are there for, right?”
Your lawyer doesn’t make your decisions for you. You have free choice, free will and a responsibility for your actions. He chose to drink, he chose to drive, he therefore chose to kill 5 people. He chooses to plead not-guilty, he chooses to force an expensive and pointless trial on the backs of the tax-payers, and you continue to choose to defend him.
As to his legal bills; who is paying them?
“He wishes it was him that was dead!”
Then why is he going to drag the widower out to his trial and sentencing? Why is he trying to dodge the full burden of responsibility?
He’s a coward, that’s why. He can’t take responsibility for anything he’s done.
Prison for 50 years. He should be asking for it, not having it forced upon him. Does he actually think there’s a jury alive who won’t be able to be convinced that:
1. He was over the legal limit for alcohol
2. he was driving the truck that killed 5 people and critically injured two others?
That’s the burden of proof. If he adds some sort of insanity plea to his case he has to prove that he didn’t know the difference between right and wrong, and if they accept that aspect, he will never again see the outside of a mental institution. He wants to escape responsibility for his crimes, just like before.
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It’s actually not unusual for defendents to plead not guilty during this patricular phase(don’t ask me why, it just is). We’ll see what his plea is come the first pre trial hearing. If he takes this to trial, then he’ll prove himself an even bigger scumbag than he already is.
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I think most defendants originally plead not guilty to give time for them to work out an arrangement with prosecutors. For instance, in a death penalty case, the prosecutor could promise not to seek the death penalty in exchange for a guilty plea. Whereas if you just pleaded guilty right away without trying to arrange something, the prosecutor could throw the book at you.
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I imagine that’s going on in this case. The saddest thing about this case to me is it may stop some people but it won’t do away with drunk driving. And sooner or later there will be another tradegy like this one
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His lawyer is trying to get in touch with the Griffin and Burkman family so they can help intercede on Gagnon’s behalf. If they don’t, the prosecutor has no reason to offer leniency in his plea deal. This is a fairly open and shut case and the public want Michael to get a very severe sentence.
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Gagnon will suffer for the rest of his life because of what he did, whether he goes to jail for 30 days or 30 years. He will suffer every night, and every morning. Every Christmas and birthday he’ll hurt inside. And that fucker should hurt. There is no excuse for what he did. I don’t really care whether or not he wishes it had been him who died. The fact of the matter is that it WASN’T him. So suffer on, dude. Good luck living with yourself. At least you have the option.
Admin, I’ve loved T-shirt hell for YEARS. Great job bringing them along for the ride. I think some of us here have some pretty funky senses of humor, and a lot of those thread are awesome. Kudos.
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Fuck micheal gagnon. I hope he does get out soon, cuz i’ve got a brick in a pillow case waiting to reunite with his face. The sorry sack of shit.
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I hope the only thing that the Griffin family want s to cut short is Gagnon’s life. Like I said who is paying his legal bills, you, I and the Griffins!
Gagnon deserves death, God will determine heaven or hell.
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You guys don’t understand: nothing gets in the way of 4th meal.
Admin - Classic!
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I really think there should be another choice when you are a POS facing court.
It should be something along the lines of ‘no comment’… or something else that says the person isn’t going to say guilty or not guilty until proven otherwise.
This POS is the one who killed everyone. There is no doubt about it. The perp knows nobody else plowed this family down. When the facts are indesputable, it is an absolute insult to the victims to have the perp be able to claim ‘not guilty’.
Not guilty of what? They did it. There is no smoking gun. They should not be allowed to plead that.
The POS pleads not guilty. Hmm. Not surprised. Every loser seems to call NG, even when they were the only person and five-million people saw them.
Disgusting.
Nice guy? NOT. Doesn’t even have the balls to accept that he killed four children and someone’s wife.
Makes me want to barf.
You want respect? Plead guilty and prove that your testicles aren’t stuck in your mouth like a pacifier.
Just disgusting all around.
c
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Having worked in the court system, I am not surprised about the not guilty plea. In the state of Nebraska, you get 3 DUI’s before it is a felony. I have even seen cases where the offender injured or killed someone and they were given a light jail sentence and probation. Hell, there were even judges who were convicted of drunk driving. What slays me is the fact that it is 100% avoidable. If you want to drink you can have a designated driver, call a cab, or simply make sure you drink some place where you can stay. The unfortunate thing is that there is so much recidivism when it comes to drunk driving. Very few do it only once. I would bet the farm that we will see Mr. Michael Gagnon arrested again for DUI. He can plead whatever he likes, that doesn’t make him any less a selfish moron.
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The woman mentioned in your links recently got sentenced to three and a half to five years in prison. Not a bad deal considering she mowed an off duty cop over. Her defenders are even more patheic than Gagnon’s are. At least Gagnon’s supporters admit he was wasted.
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Yup, she did.
Of course, she was talking on her CELL while she was driving drunk…should have gotten an extra few years for that…
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Such a pity the laws are as strict as Ohio’s in many states. A drunk driver in Washington State, Theresa Nickleby killed two college students and only got 4 1/2 years. That is apprently the maximium in Washington. What a joke
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A “no comment” plea would be nice, wouldn’t it? It used to be that if you refused to plea, they couldn’t try you, so they would resort to extraordinary means (torture) to force you to plea. Nowadays a refusal to plea is entered automatically as “not guilty.”
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Even if this worthless guy cried himself to sleep every night, he deserves absolutely no sympathy.
Having previously worked for a company that monitored convicted drunks, I can tell you almost none ever take any responsibility in any way. 99% of them repeatedly drink and drive and offer up every excuse known as to why it was justified and they are being treated unfairly. Sorry, but NO ONE forced him to drive drunk.
The people he killed will never get a second chance - neither should he.
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And the moral of this story is
If I wanna wack someone, I should
1. Check the laws.. just to be sure
2. Mow my target down with my car
3. Before the cops come - drink up!
THen I will get
1. 3 hots and a cot for a few months to a few years
2. Full custody of my child - hey it will be a major part of my rehabilitation
3. Maybe a free law degree
4. Maybe even one of those women who love prisoners… you know the ones that thrive on either abuse or just love being someone’s slave.
And how are the courts going to prove it?
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I don’t understand why he would get a light sentence HE KILLED PEOPLE
Oh and Glory, as far as I know when I went to court for a fix it ticket there are a whole list of things you can plea with; Not Guilty, Guilty, No Contest etc.
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But Brittany - he did not mean to kill 5 people.
Hell this guy will get off lighter than I. My wife left me and it looks like I will be paying child support for a full 14 to 18 years. This POS may serve some jail time, but will most likely do NOTHING for the remaining Griffin family.
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I did some Googling and found that his brother had a minor DUI charge - He was pulled over and beligerance was not noted in the story, unlike Michael’s case were those Griffins ruined his truck…
Anyway as I have stated before, a bad person is not bad ALL the time. What makes Michael bad, aside from the fact that he killed 5 people, is the fact that he was belligerant at the accident scene. Why is he angry? It’s not like the Griffins are at any fault.
Yes, bad things happen to good people, good people do make mistakes. BUT when a good person does something bad, there is this thing called guilt. When a good person hurts someone else, the guilt kicks in, they try to help or undo some of what they did. Not Michael - he’s pissed off.
The Griffin’s had every right to be going the speed limit, Michael, knowing he was drunk should have had the decentcy to stay off the highway, but some BAD PEOPLE are cocky and think that they are in control, rather than realize that something is controling them.
I am tired of the people who rally behind the drunk. If you all stopped being so supportive long ago and held him more accountable in the past, then he might have thought twice and the Griffin and Gagnon families would have never met.
But then again, it seems that Michael may be one of the good apples of your bunch!
How many times have one of you covered for him?
Let not so little things slide?
Excused him because you did not want to be a hypocrit?
Now that my daugher is older, I AM a hypocrit! I tell her not to do things that I did, tell her do try things I did not.
As a sinner, I am going to be a hypocrit at times, because I want those around me to do and be better than I.
But all of you, Gagnon Family, who excused his behavior, you let the beast grow and live. While I am not God, I can say that Michael better do some searching for God on his own because it looks like the only time you pull out your Bibles is when you need something to hide behind!
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Add two more assholes to your list that should be in hell with him. Both are drunk drivers & complete assholes. George Dumbya Bush & Dick Cheney. But most idiots never READ before voting for Nazis & morons. They should be on the cover of Hell Magazine.
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no one knows Mr. Gagnon. DDriving IS WRONG. But good people make bad choices. This is a tradgedy absolutely and I feel total sorrow for Dan Griffin and his family. Mike Gagnon will suffer everyday for the rest of his life He was on suicide watch c-sake. He has never had a DUI only a speeding ticket, he is very loved by his family and very involved with his family.
Coming from a situation where my father killed a man drunk driving at 19 (and NEVER drank a drop and drove since) is a wonderful man- I KNOW that this it can be a tradgedy both ways. He lost his life because of the stupid mistake me made. My Dad lives with the guilt and sorrow to this day. I know t here are repeat offenders out there and they should be locked far away but think if it were your son or brother that made ONE bad decision, would you be so quick to judge?
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What was Michael Gagnon’s MIP (Minor In Possession) reduced from?
Who was his attorney?
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‘Dude, you know what I want, man.’… Come on, man, hook it up.’
Michael Gagnon’s response to Jacob Lopez telling him there was no such thing as a Mexican Fiesta at Taco Bell.
Some of his last words before saying “Sorry Bro” after killing 5 people.
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Ok, he kills 5 PEOPLE and pleads not guilty?? This is beyond being evil. I am from the Wisconsin area and a guy there killed one person while DUI… He pled guilty and got 12 years. Someone like this I could forgive….He knew that he was wrong and did the right and moral thing by pleading guilty. Gagnon is a different story. By pleading not guilty, he just shows what a selfish ass he really is. He is hoping that he will get reduced jailtime if he pleads this way I suppose? Anyway, I bet he will get at least 30 years. Hopefully more if not life.
Oh another thing. What is with the death penalty in Ohio ? Looking on the death row website, many of those men killed JUST 1 PERSON and they are being sentenced to die. So what happens when you murder 5 people in Ohio?
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What the hell does the Bush Cheney comment have to do with this poor family’s suffering? You’re probably one of the maggots that voted for Clinton,the Lying, adulteress pothead chode smoker. By the way Gagnon MUST PAY for what he did, plain and simple. The court system will never be able to bring him to justice, what he did was inexcusable!!
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And another thing, doesn’t this Gagnon character look like your typical wannabe yo-boy eminem disciple that thinks the world owes them a living and doesn’t give a fuck if they ruin or end someone’s life? Just something to think about, God Bless Bethany and her family.
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Speaking of not taking responsblity, the woman they link to in this article, Heather Hennings is appealing her sentence, saying the three to five years she received is too harsh and that she should have been given probation. Guess all those statements she made about taking responsblity and all that were crap. She got off easy, the man she killed, Shad Nicks got a death sentence. Why do these drunks appeal their sentences? WHY?
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Ryan- I am very sorry your father chose to drive drunk and killed ‘a man’.
(I find it odd that you don’t know this ‘man’s name. He was important to other people before your dad killed him, y’know?)
I am sorry your dad is living with guilt and sorrow every day.
I hope more, that he’s hurting from where he belongs, which is in prison, but I’m going to guess I’d be wrong about that.
I’m going to guess also that this anonymous ‘man’ that your father killed has family that hurts everyday, too. Just in a different, ‘having lost your dear family member’ way.
Please don’t tell me the details of why your dad got his hands slapped, cuz I don’t really want to know.
c
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okay..some of the things you are saying make me sick. i can pretty much guarantee that the majority of you dont even know michael.what gives you the right to sit here and talk about him as if you did. and if you know so much you would know he DIDNT HIRE HIS LAWYER!!! Well i know him and i am telling you right now that he is not a bad person. He is a very kind hearted person who made a very bad decision that resulted in a horrible tragedy. My prayers are with the griffin family and i hope that god gives them strength to get through this very difficult time. I am not at all trying to justify what happened here… i just find it amazing all of the things you people are saying about someone you dont even know. if you knew michael you would know how hard it is going to be for him to live the rest of his life knowing he did this… And maybe you all shouldnt be so hypocritical, because i’m sure you have all made bad decisions, maybe they didn’t result in a tragedy like this but nontheless everyone makes mistakes. If you found yourself in this position or someone close to you in this position my bet is you wouldn’t speak such foul words.
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I think I am a pretty good person. Always room for improvement, of course.
Because I have had chronic pain for almost 20 years, sometimes I am also crabby and snappy.
Sometimes I forget people’s birthdays. A lot of times I realize that I interrupted and didn’t let someone finish their sentence.
One thing I have not done is to get behind the wheel of a car when I was shit-faced drunk and wanted a little Taco-Bell… and subsequently killed half of someone’s family, including little children.
“Well i know him and i am telling you right now that he is not a bad person”.
Oh. Well ok, then.
I am kind of curious. For all the people who have supported this POS, and said he shouldn’t get punished too harshly…
I wonder what their feelings are about other drunk drivers who have killed half a family. The drunk drivers who kill just one person, and not half a family. The drunk drivers who only end up killing babies in carseats.
Is that different? Or do you think those people are ‘really good people’ too?
c
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“some of the things you are saying make me sick.”
Your brother/cousin/friend/etcetera killed 5 people, that’s a bigger crime than making you uncomfortable.
“he DIDNT HIRE HIS LAWYER”
He didn’t have to. He agreed to using his services and accepted him as his legal defense. Grow up and learn what adult words mean. You sound like a 4-year-old when you whine about things you don’t understand.
“Well i know him and i am telling you right now that he is not a bad person.”
Noun 1. bad person - a person who does harm to others
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/bad+person
Get this through your head: Mike did a bad thing and by definition that makes him a “bad person.”
Learn the English language; it appears to be the only one you have an even passing familiarity with and tends to be absolutely vital when attempting to understand what other people are saying or when you want to communicate with others.
We know mike Killed 5 people, that’s significant harm. Mike pleading not guilty when he is guilty of all charges, causes harm to those who now have to travel to his trial to help in his sentencing. Mike is still doing bad things and is thus still a “bad person.”
“i just find it amazing all of the things you people are saying about someone you dont even know.”
HE KILLED 5 PEOPLE! GET THAT THROUGH YOUR HEAD! If he had been smoking crack and killed 5 people it would have been the same series of laws broken as abusing alcohol.
“And maybe you all shouldnt be so hypocritical, because i’m sure you have all made bad decisions, maybe they didn’t result in a tragedy like this but nontheless everyone makes mistakes.”
Adj. 1. hypocritical - professing feelings or virtues one does not have; “hypocritical praise”
insincere - lacking sincerity; “a charming but thoroughly insincere woman”; “their praise was extravagant and insincere”
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hypocritical
Seriously, why do you bother to use words you don’t know how to use? Are you just spouting off words you heard from TV, in tense dramatic moments, and hoping they’ll scare people off from accurately describing the actions and their desired consequences of and for Michael Gagnon?
COMMUNICATE with actual words or stop trying. If you have to sit there with a dictionary and look up each and every word just to try and make sense, then DO IT!!! The English language is a tool used by adults to communicate specific ideas. What you’re doing is the equivalent of using a sledge hammer to wash dishes; you’re failing at the task you wanted to achieve and the sledge hammer is getting rustier and dirtier from your misuse.
“if you knew michael you would know how hard it is going to be for him to live the rest of his life knowing he did this…”
I never wanted to know Michael. I knew Bethany, and would like to still know her, but Michael killed her. I don’t care about Michael and his suffering, Bethany, Jordan, Lacie, Haley and Vadie are dead and he isn’t. Dan is still in a Halo. That’s a medical brace they use to help prevent further injury while your neck heals. Jack Burkman lost 2 children in the accident and is now raising two sons alone. Jodie Griffin lost one daughter and almost lost the only other daughter she had. Do you realize that if Mike gets 30 years and gets out on parole in 12, that he will be almost the same age as Bethany when he killed her? Think about the fact that Sydney will be graduating from High School when her Sisters’ killer steps out of jail to your love and adulation. Pain and suffering will still be inflicted by Michael every second of every day he chooses to breathe air. He will be a constant reminder of 5 deaths. He will continue to inflict that pain on hundreds of people for the rest of his life. As long as he lives and chooses to pursue anything but a perpetual prison sentence or his own death, he will be a “BAD PERSON” by the very definition of the word.
How do I know? Because you are also a bad person. I’m a bit of a bad person for pointing it out, but you are becoming a monster just like Michael.
5. One who inspires horror or disgust:a monster of selfishness.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/monster
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Yesterday, Michael Gagnon waived his right to a speedy trial, answered a few questions from the Judge and moved forward in this case. The hospital tests were deemed inadmissible, so the state police tests given afterwards that put his BAC several hours after the wreck at .1888 were used, and the State Police have charts for alcohol burn rate that still put him 3 times over the legal limit.
The family of the victims were there and supported, and thankfully, Michael’s family were not there–if you’re still reading this, thank you, seriously, that shows a lot of class. A representative from MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) was there and she intends to be at every court appearance. Danny intends to be a spokesperson for them, he wants the rest of his life to be dedicated to the task of stopping tragedies like that and his friends and family support him 100%.
Gagnon’s Attorney seems to be handling this like a mitigation because of the evidence against him, and I suppose I’m okay with that. It’s not an acceptance of responsibility, but no one who drinks and drives is responsible, so why should I expect him to suddenly grow up and be a man in 36 days? Twenty-four years didn’t work to build any character or maturity into him, so why should a few weeks help anything?
Action points that seem necessary:
1. Hospital Blood Tests should be admissible in Ohio.
2. Capital punishment should be available in Aggravated Vehicular Manslaughter cases as long as capital punishment is provided in the State of Ohio(technically a question anyway).
Gagnon’s court case starts in earnest on April 21st and there’s a Motion Hearing set March 27th. Rick Sanders is trying to suppress the Blood tests, but everything should move forward.
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Mother reply on April 22, 2008:
Jason I hope one day I can meet you,face to face.I want to put my arms around you and feel your pain,and maybe you can feel my pain.Both of us will have a pain that probley wont ever go away.I hope one day I can talk to you and tell you the story of what really happen that night.And no I am not making any excuses for my son.And if you feel you need to rip me apart by your words,please do so,I guess everyone has a right to there feelings.I cant come up with one excuse for what has happen.I not asking for pity either,I just want to talk to you.You are a very smart man and know alot.And yes I have join MADD.And yes I have bad grammer and yes Iam a sinner.The Lord is the only one that carrys me daily.And forgive me for any bad comments that I have made about you.
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RealityCheck reply on April 22, 2008:
I think we all know what ‘really happened’ that night.
Nice to see that you have joined MADD.
What an oxymoron.
After all, your child was not killed by a drunk driver. Your child killed a whole family while driving drunk the wrong way on a highway to get a fourthmeal at Taco Hell.(and is pleading Not Guilty!)
On the same note, your family pub serves food. Why not give the boy some food? The fact that a family member knew he was going to get a fourthmeal is evidence that you let him drive wasted.
What a waste of the dollar menu and a perfectly good family.
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TurtleMania reply on April 22, 2008:
How much effort does it take to make a cold-cut sandwich? Hmmm, let’s see…
Two slices of bread - Check
Mayo - Check
Lunch meat - Check
Lettuce - Check
Tomatoes - Check
Knife (to provide the fixings) - Check
Perhaps it would’ve saved everyone grief, yes?
RealityCheck reply on April 22, 2008:
Positively - Check
RealityCheck reply on April 22, 2008:
Especially on steroids.
My guess, 2 seconds per pound.
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Yesterday was Valentines Day. It should have been a fun day at school for the girls, but instead they are now cold in the ground. Murdered by a monster… Gagnon, remember when you were a little kid in school and the innocence that Valentines Day was? The puppy love and all other positive things. Instead you bring an unspeakable dark evil to the day. I thought it was a little bit of justice for you to be in court yesterday on this holiday that represents positive things in life.
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Hello Jason,
Yep, still reading. These boards are slowing down for you….
You should get some counsling, professional counsling. I’m sorry, I’m not trying to be rude, but go, at least for your daughter’s sake.
You know, at that dinner fund raiser, my family who was there, said that Dan was a very nice guy when they met and talked with him for a little while. Happy to hear that he was moving back to be near his daughter, she needs him now more than anything.
You know, about Mike’s family being classy….I guess everyone has their oppions….oh…hey wait…maybe you can look that up in the dictonary and post the meaning….LMFAO…I love when you do that, now THAT is classy!!!!
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Jason makes good points in his posts. I also agree that no matter who thinks Michael is a good person, it doesn’t change the fact that 5 people are dead because this good person did something stupid. Who knows, maybe Hitler was a good person who made bad decisions. That does NOT excuse what he did. This guy needs to be put away for a long time and I’m glad he feels bad about what he did and wishes it was him that was dead. In these cases, guess what, it’s usually the drunk driver who survives because he/she is drunk while innocent people get killed. I don’t mind that he wishes he was dead. He should have been dead right along with those babies. But, drunk people just don’t die as much as the innocents do.
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Good Point Kim…I never said that Jason didn’t make any good points….
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I agree, Kim. Jason has made intelligent and informed posts. In addition, he hasn’t sunk to the name calling and finger pointing that other invested parties have. Obviously the familiars of Michael have little class; considering they have stooped to mocking someone who is obviously grieving.
If you had been so vigilant with dear drunk Michael maybe he would have sought the “counseling” (that is the proper spelling FYI) you think Jason needs; thus preventing a tragedy like this from happening at all.
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Thank y’all very much. I just thought about something while I was at home for lunch. I’m a good person, for the most part. BUT, if I have to put a roll of toilet paper back on an emtpy roll ONE MORE TIME, I am going to snap and start beating people up. But I’m a good person, so I should get off lightly. hahahha. J/K. But, really, how lazy can you be to not refill the toilet paper roll when you use the last of it?!? For crying out loud. hahaha. That is just one of my pet peeves and I get mad about it. The point of that was, I’m not killing people over it. :)
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Kim and angier citizen - Anonomyous was being completely sarcastic about ‘mike’s family being classy’ Jason stated that he though that them NOT showing up in court actually showed some class. Jason, if you need to get counseling I’m sure you’re smoart enough to do it. I’ve done the greif counseling several times (lost 3 brothers and my dad-I was crushed and couldn’t function for awhile) Hang in there!
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I’ve never had to have grief counseling, thank goodness, but I’m sure it would do some good. It always helps to talk about stuff like this. Good luck to you, Jason. Mom, I wasn’t saying anything about Anonymous stating that the family was classy or whatever. I don’t know what you’re talking about. hahahah. I try to get my opinions and points across without pissing people off and being a complete ass, but hey, sometimes it doesn’t always work. :)
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Yes, I was aware of the sarcasm. My statement was about “Anonymous” making inference to the fact that Jason is the classless one. It would seem that Jason seems to have a grasp on his grief. He is using his obvious intelligence to make sure that the victims aren’t forgotten as many people now focus on the criminal. Makes sense to me. No matter what happens in the courtroom, the family deserves to have voices on their side.
As for the toilet paper issue, I just stopped putting it back. I take what I need and put the roll back in the cabinet! Let those who fail to replace it fumble for it at that critical moment! *wink*.
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LOL! never though of doing that with the tp. sorry if I misread your comments guys. PLEASE don’t kick me out of the ‘club’
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He needs professional counseling
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It sure seems like the vicitims get forgotten. Most of here try to make sure that doesn’t happen. I like reading Jason’s posts. He seems like a pretty intelligent guy. Most of y’all come across that way. There are a few rare occasions when we get an idiot posting a bunch of nonsense which keeps it interesting. hahaha.
I can’t leave an empty roll just sitting there. hahahah. It bugs the hell out of me. And when I go in the bathroom and the roll is empty and a new roll is sitting on the counter, I just go ballistic. hahahaha. The girls at work do the same thing and it just drives me crazy. I don’t know, one of those little quirks I have, I guess. :)
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I lost three friends in Iraq last year, a Grandmother to Alzheimer’s, 2 friends to cancer, and 5 to a drunk driver. As odds go, Michael Gagnon has killed more people I love in a single year than any other single thing/person/catastrophe.
Yes, I’m seeing a grief counselor.
I’m a human being who suffers sympathy and grief when my friends and family are hurt or killed, and you continuously show how little you know about being one. There are rules to being a human being. There are rules and responsibilities that come not from our creator, but from the communities we share. I try to live by these unspoken rules, and bend them only when compassion is necessary. I doubt you even know what I’m talking about.
My name is Jason and I don’t have a daughter.
I do not claim to be anonymous when I most definitely am not. I know what the words I use mean. I take responsibility for my actions. I serve my country, pay my taxes, vote in an informed way in every election, and from time to time I pray. When there’s a problem, I try very hard to solve it, first by myself, and then by asking for help. I cannot bring Bethany back to life. I cannot physically wrap my fingers around Michael’s neck and strangle him to death, and wanting to is a problem that makes me less than humane–that’s why I’m seeing a grief counselor.
Yes, Danny is an incredible person, and he sat patiently in court yesterday and watched Michael Gagnon stand up and talk to the judge. Danny has always been an incredible person. He didn’t need the death of his wife and children to make him do great things. He’s one of the strongest human beings I know, and how he sat in that room without killing Michael, I will never know.
In the recent past, I’ve read as you rant and rave about how “good” Michael was/is/could-have-been, and I have discounted every point. Every comment you made has been refuted. There’s a very real sense of satisfaction in that. There’s a job well done and an accomplishment, that while it will never bring Bethany and those girls back to life, it polished a few of my words so that when I speak to people who matter, and can make a difference, maybe those words can lead to my desires being met.
Perhaps in a few years, the Ohio State Legislature, will make Michael’s crimes a capital offense. A Bethany law would truly be the best tribute I could hope to contribute to in this regard and effort and perhaps arguing with you is the best step. I’ll take the words you tossed around so ignorantly, and say with all honesty and clarity “the families of alcoholics show little or no real remorse or responsibility for the actions of the criminals in these cases. Their communities rally behind them and try to protect them from their crimes and seek to escape judgment and penalty by invoking false scripture and religious cultism only when it suits their purpose. There is little chance of reform for convicted DUI murderers, under those conditions, so death seems a more humane and expedient penalty to insure that there is a lasting reminder for both the criminal and his alcoholic family members, that DUI is a serious crime that should not be passed on from generation to generation. We cannot continually allow DUI murderers to kill 30,000+ people a year. Michael Gagnon should have gotten the death penalty, but the laws were not strict enough. Can you help to change these laws?”
I don’t wish you bitterness, I don’t wish you pain, but I take comfort in your shame and ignorance as politely as I can. You think you’re helping. You think you’re making a positive difference by standing up for Michael, but you are part of the problem and when someone else close to you murders someone with a DUI, you’ll still be part of that problem.
Beyond that, you are a coward who tries desperately to hide behind anonymity. You tried to stifle speech and public shunning, humiliation and judgment of Michael Gagnon for crimes he truly committed and is fully responsible for, due to his careless, reckless, willful, informed, and despicable acts. You failed over and over and over again. I don’t care how that makes you feel. In my eyes we are still equal under the law, under God, under a host of other measurements and calculations, but I know my humanity is intact and that yours is suffering a grievous lack or injury.
And still you attempt to count coup. You dance and laugh about grief and counseling, trying your hardest to make some sort of evaluation for yourself that you are somehow bigger or better than you truly are. So I chuckle, I smile, and I take comfort in your failings, knowing that there are two paths they can lead to: Acceptance for your part in this tragedy or your eventual death, even more ignorant and in denial than you already are.
We’d never have met, had it not been for this tragedy. I’d still have traded all of this for Bethany and the girls. Not a second thought would I have ever had.
Good luck in life, I hope you get another chance before it’s too late.
admin - As always, we wish you the best.
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I’m happy to hear that your going to counseling…
I think it’s great what your doing and keep up the great job.
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Ok y’all, Jason just made me cry. I just want to hug you, Jason!! The way you write and the things you say are just incredible to read. It makes me think about things a lot harder than I usually do. Thank you for opening my eyes to the other side of such tragedies. I hope you come to terms with your grief and that one day you can be happy again. Like I said, I have only had to deal with the death of my beloved grandmother 22 years ago, and I know how hard it was to get over that. Hell, I still don’t think I’m over it. To this day, I think about her and cry. I cry over her grave. I guess it takes a while, huh? Good luck to you!!
Nebraska Mom, you aren’t kicked out of the club!! I would be lost without you!! heheh.
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I just don’t understand why people are doing so much and driving? I am originally from a small town and what not and while visiting friends, there were 4 drunk drivers that got into an accident in one spot in 2 nights! (It is an S curve.) I mean seriously, if you have friends, just CALL them! I know as a person, I donLt drink, but if my friend is drinking, I will GLADY pick them up and take them home!
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awww thanks Kim. I would HATE to have to go to Oprah or DrPhil.com. I would never be able to rant the way I do here and what fun would that be, ya know, being nice and all. LOL! Jason, I have no idea how you feel but I’ve been down a simular road. My oldest brother(21)-was drunk and crashed his car-only killed himself (grateful abit) Twinish brother(21)- Fell off a road overpass, Dad(67)- lung cancer Baby Brother(29 & perfect)tree months after my dad died- Brain anurism. they all died on the 16th of the month (twilight zone) and yes I still cry alot. There were no murders, so I can’t even fathom how that would feel. *hugs* jason
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I wish more people had friends like you Jayni. I have a confession. I have driven drunk. Not plastered or anything, but I have driven after I had been drinking. Thank God I never hurt anyone. I have since grown out of that and I always ride with someone else if I know I’m going to be drinking which is pretty much a given.
Nebraska Mom, it would be very boring here if you left us!!!
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Well, that is good, Kim. =0) My father drinks and drives a lot. He is now a pro at it. Personally, I don’t understand it myself because when I was taken away from my father at a very young age. While I was in groupd homes, I would send my Dad letters telling him that things needed to change. I told him he needed to stop drinking at every chance he gets. When I lived at home, he would start drinking at the moment he woke up and drink all damn day until he went to bed. As a young child I remember even mixing his for him. No matter what he always had the same thing, Windsor 7, which is Windsor and 7 UP. :(
Till this day, I don’t think he realizes what has made me stay away from them. I have told him several times why I won’t come home, etc. All he does is laugh. It is really sad because I have two little brothers at home that are drinking themselves and they are 13 and 17!
Right now I am trying my hardest to get my youngest brother out of there. I hope he will realize he can have things soo much better with out the drinking and parties at the house.
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Don’t worry about me. I still smile and laugh. I put in a hard days work and make a good amount of money so that my wife and our cats can live a better than average life. I have not lost my center.
I would like to share something with you though. These wounds are still there, and the scab is something easy to pick at. A lovely 15-year-old girl (BOGGLE!!!) sent this to a friend of a friend of a friend and shared it with us. Her father writes the introduction, but it truly is amazing.
My 15 year-old daughter was assigned to write a ballad and she wrote about your friend’s family. She was really touched by the tragedy your friend went through and picked that. She had no idea that I have an indirect connection. She may not be Walt Whitman but see what you think and pass it on to him if you think he might benefit. His family has been on her mind and in her prayers more than I knew.
Enjoy your vacation
Brett Bullock
Ballad of a Broken Family By Alyssa Bullock
This is the ballad of a broken family,
Of young lives cut short.
This is the ballad of a broken family
Who so easily could have been your’s.
‘Twas a lonely midnight drive
On a cold December night,
A family of eight drove in their van
Without a care in sight.
They had survived the holidays
And now were driving home,
But an unexpected trouble
Came blindly down the road.
Three times the legal limit
Of alcohol in his veins,
His truck came speeding towards theirs,
Driving the wrong way.
He tore their van in half, he did,
And their family as well,
For lying on the black concrete
Five bodies did dwell.
The mother’s age was thirty-six,
Her children seven, and two of ten,
The youngest was but two months old.
All of these were dead.
The surviving members were rushed to care,
Two eight-year-olds and their father,
But if you were to call them fortunate
The truth couldn’t be any farther.
The scene they had to leave behind
Must haunt them by the hour.
Try to imagine for just a moment
That their fortune would be ours.
Could you live through such a thing?
Your family gone in a flash?
Because your life could be just like theirs
When you don’t put down that flask.
This is the ballad of a broken family,
Of young lives cut short.
This is the ballad of a broken family
Who so easily could have been your’s.
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Jason,
That ballad was really beautiful Thanks for sharing it with everyone. I’m so sorry for your tragic loss. I really wish you the best and hope that your fight for justice on drinking and driving is passed. I too have joined that fight and will continue to do so for a very long time to come.
Good luck to you!!!
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Update: Michael Gagnon’s mother continues to defend him and his actions on the memorial myspace site. There is absolutely no genuine remorse in that family, is there?
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=307161215&blogID=358156264
Actual remorse would be accepting responsibility for how this happened.
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“You know, about Mike’s family being classy….I guess everyone has their oppions….oh…hey wait…maybe you can look that up in the dictonary and post the meaning….LMFAO…I love when you do that, now THAT is classy!!!!”
You and the rest of your The-Hills-Have-Eyes family members can burn in hell :) Have a nice day fucker.
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None of you even know this family. i understand that what mike did was really wrong and he deserves whatever he gets but mikes family also lost someone close to them too. If God can forgive we can too.
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“but mikes family also lost someone close to them too”
Oh, give me a fucking break. At least Mike’s family can still see, talk to and spend time with him. It takes a completely clueless individual to try to equate the family of a drunk with a family slaughtered on a highway by someone’s selfishness and gluttony for alcohol and a cheap 99 cent burrito.
There’s a reason God doesn’t get called for jury duty…
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Yeah I agree with Dark Marscun. That is pretty fucking pathetic and insensitive to try to equate the Gagnon family with the Burkman/Griffin family. The Gagnons didn’t lose Michael in the same way that the Griffin/Burkman familes lost Bethany and her girls.
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Amen to DarkMarcsun!! EXACTLY what I wanted to say!!!
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Re-post-FYI:
comment by: SG
Michael Gagnon trial rescheduled for June 23
More On WTOL.com
5 dead in traffic accident; man charged
On Monday, the case was continued for a Michigan man accused of driving drunk and killing a mother and four children. Police say he was drunk, and drove the wrong way down I-280 crashing head-on into a minvan.
The original trial date for Michael Gagnon was set for Monday, April 21. That date has been rescheduled.
Gagnon appeared in court on Monday, April 21 for a pre-trial hearing. He has another pre-trial hearing scheduled for May 9. The trial is now scheduled to begin June 23.
Michael Gagnon is charged with aggravated vehicular homicide and aggravated vehicular assault.
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Gagnon found guilty
Friday, May 09, 2008 | 10:33 AM
Judge finds Gagnon guilty after change of plea
Today in court, Michael Gagnon changed his plea from not guilty to no contest in connection with charges filed in a wrong-way crash on I-280 that killed four children and one adult.
After the change of plea, a judge found him guilty of all charges. Sentencing is set for June 27.
13abc.com: Gagnon pleads no contest 5/09/08
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I was pleased that Michael finally changed his plea and decided to take responsibility for his actions. While I still hope this will all eventually lead to a Bethany’s law, where a DUI homicide is considered equal to 1st degree murder, I now have a little bit more respect for Michale Gagnon.
His incarceration will not bring Bethany back, but perhaps if he turns his prison sentence towards advocacy, he can help keep other innocent lives from joining her.
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TurtleMania reply on May 9, 2008:
Thanks Jason and Jen for the update!
This is good news, yes.
I shall refrain from giving Gagnon respect until he commits to repairing the damage he has done. However, his actions today are a step in the right direction.
Cheers!
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