A Massachusetts man has been found guilty of murder in connection with the murder of a 13-year-old girl , who was struck and killed when he sped through a red light at nearly 70 mph after a work Christmas party last year. According to Law and Crime , the man was going almost 70mph when he struck the teenager as well as her mother and a friend seriously injuring the latter two.
Police stated that the man was traveling in a company truck and was under the influence of cocaine as well as alcohol when the accident happened. The man — identified as Gregory Goodsell — is facing two decades behind bars for his crimes. The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office issued a statement about the man's guilty verdict.
"A jury has convicted a driver who was under the influence of alcohol and drugs when he struck a car, killed a 13-year-old girl, and left two others seriously injured," read the statement, "After a two-week trial, a jury deliberated for over 10 hours before finding Gregory Goodsell, 36, of Marshfield, guilty of one count of Murder in the Second Degree, and one count each of Motor Vehicle Manslaughter while Operating Under the Influence, and Leaving the Scene of Property Damage."
In addition to the charges, Goodsell was also found guilty of two counts of Operating Under the Influence Causing Serious Bodily Injury. The DA said that in the early hours of December 29th, 2019, Goodsell allegedly plowed his truck, belonging to his then-employer Hi-Way Safety Systems Inc. into a Subaru. First responders to the scene detailed the horrific scene. "First responders observed a white Subaru containing three occupants, that had sustained heavy front-end damage," the statement read. "Across the roadway, a white Ford pickup truck which was operated by Goodsell, was fully turned around with heavy passenger side damage."
According to officers, the crash happened on Route 139 in Pembroke and left all three victims with "catastrophic injuries." Elizabeth Zisserson,50, her 13-year-old daughter, Claire, and her friend Kendall Zemotel, 13, were extracted from the ruined vehicle and were transported to South Shore Hospital. Both the teens were later transported to Children's Hospital in Boston for more treatment. It was there that Claire succumbed to her injuries.
Back at the scene of the accident, police began poking around Goodsell's vehicle and discovered that it contained a bottle of whiskey, a beer can, two nip bottles, marijuana and a pipe. Investigators, after talking with several eyewitnesses and looking at evidence, determined that Goodsell was intoxicated with a BAC of 0.266. Authorities even stated that Goodsell, himself, admitted that he might have “drank way too much" and that he should not have gotten behind the wheel. The man even told investigators he was "so sorry."
During Goodsell's sentencing hearing on Thursday, things got emotional when Claire's mother made a statement. According to Zisserson, the crash “destroyed my life and caused a ripple effect of damage that can never be undone,” according to NBC affiliate WBTS . “As a family, we cling together to stay afloat,” she reportedly said. “Our table of four is now three, our house is quiet as a tomb.”
Zemotel, who was also present at the hearing, said that she lost her “best friend” and “part of myself that day that I will never get back.” When it was Goodsell's turn to speak, the defendant took his time to apologize to the family for all the pain he caused.
“I shamefully take responsibly for my actions and can hold nobody accountable except for myself, he allegedly said per the outlet. According to CBS affiliate WBZ, Goodsell also said “If I could go back to that day and die instead of Claire, I would in a heartbeat.”
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