Englert sentenced, Gibson's family reacts

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - Darren Englert found out Tuesday he will serve 80 years in prison for his role in the murder of Jeremy Gibson, 26, in July 2011.

In court, Englert, 21, asked Gibson's family for forgiveness for his role in the murder.

But, Gibson's family said nothing will ever bring back their loved one.

"He asked for our forgiveness and that just cuts deep because it's like how can he ask for that?" said Jeremy's sister, Jennifer Gibson-Sargent.

Gibson was hit in the head with a pick axe and shovel several times. He was then burned with acid and buried in the ground. His body was found in a field in Tippecanoe County in July 2011.

Gibson-Sargent said she doesn't know if she'll ever be able to forgive Englert for his part in killing her brother.

"I spent this last year and a half trying to see something good in him. Watching him stare up at those horrible pictures of my brother's mutilated body and having no feelings or showing no feelings, shedding not even a single tear," Gibson-Sargent said.

In Englert's sentencing hearing Tuesday, several people took the stand. A psychologist for the defense testified that after evaluating Englert for nearly 9 hours, he believes Englert suffered from a "Dependent Personality Disorder." Englert's grandmother and wife expressed, with much emotion, that Englert was never a bad person. They asked the judge to consider Englert's young child.  

Then, Gibson's aunt and sister took the stand and shared memories of Jeremy and asked the judge for the maximum 87-year sentence. The judge's verdict was 80 years.

"We're glad he got what he got and there's justice for my brother now and that's all we were going after," said Jeremy's other sister, Jessica Gibson.

Tippecanoe County Prosecutor Pat Harrington is also satisfied with the sentencing. He said this may be one of the most brutal cases the county has ever seen. He said Englert, along with the two other people involved with Gibson's death, Carolann Clear and Antonio Williams, never once let up.

"How many hours this crime took and that none of these co-defendants stepped away from it. They all participated and for no reason, basically executed a person who was kind and trying to give them a place to live," Harrington explained.

Earlier this month, Clear was sentenced to 44 years in prison for her role in Gibson's death. She admitted in court she helped murder Gibson.

Antonio Williams was also charged with the Gibson's murder. He died in jail after overdosing on methadone in January 2012.

Before the judge read Englert his sentence Tuesday, Englert broke down and apologized to his own family for what he's put them through.