Your Honor:

From the first time we met Matthew, as a small child, the thing that most stands out was that smile; that big, broad, bright smile that could light up any room anywhere. It was his mom’s smile. It was contagious. You couldn’t help but feel the warmth when Matt was in the room. It’s no wonder all our kids followed Matt around, looking up to him, wanting to be like him. Matt was special. Matt was Matt. Matt made everyone feel warm, comfortable and at ease, and made us all laugh. Matt had “it”; something that you can’t create, you just have. To know him, was to love him.

Matt was such a beautiful man/son/brother/friend. He was taken from us so quickly, so tragically. The pain, anguish and despair that Matt’s family is going through, to look in his mother’s eyes, to feel the pain, there’s no words to describe it.

The defendants will be able to celebrate birthdays, Thanksgivings, Christmas, and Easter with their families. We will spend birthdays, Thanksgivings, Christmas, and Easter, mourning the loss of Matthew, FOREVER.

Nothing will bring Matt back to us, but these men must be held accountable for the role they played in his untimely death.