A judge sentenced Eric Coleman to serve 12 1/2 years in prison for driving a snowmobile drunk and killing eight-year-old Alan Geisenkoetter Jr.
Before the judge sentenced Coleman, Alan’s family had a chance to speak to the court and directly to Coleman.
“I suffer every day. Survivor’s grief, it really is a real thing. I feel guilty every day that it wasn’t us on the lake that night, that my two boys are safe and alive and my nephew isn’t,” said Gwen Kocher, Alan’s Aunt.
Alan’s grandma says Alan’s death caused her anxiety to reach unhealthy levels.
“I cannot get in a car and drive to comfort my daughter during this time. I just cannot risk having a panic attack, losing control, and possibly killing someone. I just can’t,” said Mary Beth Lonnee, Alan’s grandma.
Alan’s mother spoke about that grief, saying she suffers from PTSD.
“It’s hard to be there for my girls. The grief takes over everything I do. It’s just not fair that he was taken from us. I miss him, and there’s nothing that will ever repair my broken heart,” said Ellie Geisenkoetter.
The words affected Coleman. More than once he wiped tears from his eyes. Before the sentencing Coleman had a chance to speak.
“I don’t know if it’s selfish to say, but I think it’s time that we move on and we heal,” he said.
“You don’t really move on. It stays with you. You live with it. You don’t really learn how to deal with it, you more, or less learn how to deal with other people. And that’s how that works. He ruined our lives. How do you get that back? You don’t,” said Alan Jr’s parents after the sentencing.
“I just truly believe it’s time to move on and recover and heal from this. I just ask for forgiveness. I’m terribly sorry. That’s all I have,” Coleman said in court.
The judge then sentenced him to serve more than a decade in prison. She says he must serve two-thirds of his sentence behind bars.