An Anchorage teen who caused the death of a mother early last year has learned the price he will pay for his actions.
Murphy Gross, 17, was convicted of criminally negligent homicide and sentenced to one year in prison Thursday for the February 2013 crash that took the life of Catherine Cope.
Gross was 16 years old when he took someone’s car and drove without a license. He also smoked marijuana before the crash that took place at the intersection of Northern Lights Boulevard and A Street.
Gross became distracted and missed a red light before he slammed into an SUV.
The collision killed Cope and injured three others in the car, including Cope’s husband, who spoke to Gross during Thursday’s hearing.
“Nearly every day that goes by, my oldest daughter asks for her mother,” said Ryan Cope. “She asks if mommy is in heaven, is mommy proud of her, if mommy can see her even if she’s in school.”
Gross also got the chance to address the courtroom.
“The accident is always on my mind, and I will have to live with for the rest of my life,” he said. “I ask with an open heart if you can forgive me, but I understand your feelings are solely on my wrongdoing.”
Prosecutors chose not to pursue texting-while-driving charges against Gross because they did not believe they could prove it.
Gross must also serve five years probation, perform 960 hours of community service and receive drug and alcohol counseling.
Gross could be back home in less than a year with time off for good behavior.