Two more members of New Castle County Courthouse shooter Thomas Matusiewicz’s family were sentenced Thursday in a first of its kind federal cyber-stalking case.
Matusiewicz’s children, David Matusiewicz and Amy Gonzalez, were both given the maximum penalty of life in prison after being convicted last July of interstate cyber-stalking and criminal conspiracy that led to the death of David’s ex-wife, Christine Belford in 2013.
Thomas Matusiewicz’s wife, Lenore, was handed a life sentence in a separate hearing last Friday. It was held at her bedside in Philadelphia where she is battling a terminal illness.
The convictions are the first in the U.S. in a cyber-stalking resulting in death case.
“The life sentences imposed by Judge McHugh were necessary to punish the defendants and to protect Christine Belford’s children and our community," said Acting United States Attorney David C. Weiss in a staement. "We hope that these sentences provide some comfort to the victims’ families, and we thank the law enforcement and legal communities for their contributions to the successful prosecution of this case.”
"The Matusiewicz family caused a lot of unnecessary harm in this case, killing and injuring innocent people for no reason. This ground-breaking prosecution and investigation shows people who actively take part in planning crimes, even though they don't pull the trigger, will be held accountable," added Kevin Perkins, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Delaware.
Thomas Matusiewicz shot and killed Belford, in February 2013 following a bitter custody battle between Belford and David Matusiewicz over their three children.
After killing Belford and her friend, Beth Mulford, Thomas Matusiewicz killed himself following a shootout with police.
