A Vermont man pleaded guilty to manslaughter after his 2-year-old son tragically drowned in a brook. The father, Darel A. Galorenzo, attempted to flee the scene of a car crash on foot with his child but lost him in the process.
Darel A. Galorenzo, 35, of Readsboro, Vt., faced multiple charges, including manslaughter, conspiracy to violate drug law, operating under the influence of liquor, and operating under the influence while endangering a child.
According to the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office, Galorenzo pleaded guilty to these charges. The incident occurred on April 8, 2023, when Massachusetts State Police responded to a car crash on Middle Road in Clarksburg.
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Upon arriving at the scene, authorities discovered that Galorenzo had a toddler with him in his car. In a desperate attempt to flee on foot, he entered a brook, but lost his grip on his 2-year-old son.
As authorities searched for the child, they eventually located him in the water around 2:20 a.m. local time. Despite emergency first-aid efforts, the child was pronounced dead.
During the sentencing, it was determined that Galorenzo would serve between 9 and 15 years in prison for the manslaughter charge. This sentence, which exceeded the state sentencing guidelines by three times, was in line with the District Attorney’s office’s request. Galorenzo also received 2.5 years in prison for the operating under the influence charges.
District Attorney Timothy J. Shugrue described the case as one of the most tragic he had encountered throughout his nearly 40 years of practicing law.
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“It gave me no pleasure to appear in court today to settle this horrific case. Mr. Galorenzo’s actions on April 7th and 8th of 2023 directly caused the death of his son. I will spare the public of the traumatic details of the incidents that led to a two-year-old child’s death which included first surviving a car crash then ultimately drowning on a cold, dark night in a river rushing with melting snow. However, I wish to express that this is one of the most tragic cases I have seen in my almost 40 years of practicing law. These sentiments have also been shared by the judge involved in this case,” said Shugrue.
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