By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-10-04 13:26:22 | Updated at 2024-10-04 15:19:48
2 hours ago
A grieving father brought a courtroom to tears as he told of his devastation after his daughter was killed by a drunk driver in a 70mph cocaine-fueled crash.
Claire Zisserman, 13, died in the horror smash in Pembroke, Massachusetts after Gregory Goodsell, 36, got behind the wheel while high following a boozy Christmas party.
Her mom Elizabeth Zisserson and friend Kendall Zemotel, 13, were also seriously injured in the December 2019 collision.
On Thursday Goodsell was handed a life sentence for his crimes, but her family told how the loss of Claire had also robbed them of theirs.
A grieving father brought a courtroom to tears as he told of his devastation after his daughter Claire Zisserson, 13, was killed by a drunk driver in a 70mph cocaine-fueled crash
'It's not natural to be handed a pen to sign a form approving your daughter as an organ donor,' a tearful Ken Zisserman said, prompting many in the public gallery to break down.
'It was a symbolic moment that all hope was lost and Claire was not coming home,' he said.
'It's not natural to watch your daughter's last breaths, as the hospital slowly allowed her to pass away from her injuries.'
'After Claire died, I didn't want to live,' Elizabeth Zisserson said as she wiped away tears. 'The ache of Claire's loss is overwhelming to me.
'My world changed the day that Claire was killed. I don't recognize the person I am today, versus the one I used to be.
'I was a super-busy Mom juggling sports, scouts, carpools, school projects, away games and everything else in daily life.'
The court previously heard how Goodsell had a blood alcohol content of 0.266 at the time of the crash, more than three times Minnesota's 0.08 limit.
He was found to be under the influence of cocaine when he ran a red light and plowed his Ford F-250 truck into the Zisserson's Subaru.
Claire's dad Ken told of the family's devastation and said it was 'not natural' to have to sign forms consenting to allow his daughter to be an organ donor
Gregory Goodsell, 36, got behind the wheel while high following a boozy Christmas party and was found guilty of causing the teen's murder
He plowed his Ford Truck into the Zisserson's Subaru, killing Claire and seriously injuring her mom and friend
Police found a bottle of whiskey, marijuana, a pipe, a beer can and two nip bottles inside his vehicle.
Zisserson took full responsibility for the tragedy saying he allowed himself, 'to become completely vulnerable to any situation that arose' while at this party.
But the former Hi-Way Safety Systems employee had racked up 35 driving offenses before the crash.
'For the amount of pain that I have caused, both emotionally and physically, how could I possibly think saying sorry for my actions that morning is good enough for anybody involved in this absolutely devastating tragic accident?' a shaky Goodsell sobbed.
'Because of my out-of-control mindset and chaotic behavior that entire night, a young lady with a bright future is no longer alive.
'Nobody should ever have to attempt to live through the pain that I've caused to all these people through my careless, destructive behavior.
'If I could go back to that day and die, instead of Claire, I would in a heartbeat.'
Ken and Claire Zisserson became emotional in court as they faced their daughter's killer
Those in the public gallery of Plymouth Superior Court became tearful listening to the parents' victim impact statements
Goodsell was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison. He also became emotional as he expressed remorse for his crimes
But Plymouth District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz dismissed Goodsell's remorse as 'crying for himself'.
'The tears I want to deal with are the victims,' he told Boston 25News.
'Every decision comes with a consequence, and if Gregory Goodsell had made several different choices that fateful night, Claire would still be with us today,' he added in a statement.
'I am hopeful these two families and all that had their lives torn apart by this horrific crash can start to heal a bit, and feel some sense of closure with this sentencing.'
Goodsell was found guilty of murder in the second degree, motor vehicle manslaughter while operating under the influence and other offences.
He will only be eligible for parole after 28 years, minus time served.
