Father Charged In Daughters Sledding Death

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Peter Gecho has been charged with vehicular manslaughter in connection with the death of his 9-year-old daughter, Madison Gecho. Just after dark on Jan 16th of this year, Peter was using his pickup truck to pull an inflatable raft containing his daughter and teenager, Daniel Garris. After driving down some country roads, the pulled into the snow-covered grounds of Thomas Jefferson Middle School. Peter then revved the engine and began to do "doughnuts", when the inflatable raft hit a low-lying brick wall at about 20 mph.

Garris was thrown over the wall and sustained minor injuries, but Madison was killed.This has led to tension between not only the investigators and prosecutors, but the community as well. Debates on why Gecho wasn't arrested after his daughter died with others who feel he was a loving, grieving father who should not face criminal prosecution.

The vehicular manslaughter charge was supported by witnesses who testified that Peter had been drinking whiskey earlier that day, and had been drinking beer while filling the raft with air. Hospital workers also stated that they smelled [Read more...]