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Dustin
and Brooke growing up!
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Brooke's Thought On Brother's Death..
When
making this web site, I did not have a clue what I was doing. I also knew that no matter how much time I spent doing it, it
would never be good enough. The impact of this on me, on my only sibling dying, is indescribable. Dustin is the only one who
can understand what we have been through, the only one who understands what I deal with on a daily basis, the only one who
was ALWAYS there for me, he made me tough, he made me laugh (mostly at me not with me), he made me cry, he kept our family
whole. It will never be the same. There was only four of us to begin with.
Everyone says "it happened for a reason"
and I too have faith, I just wish I understood more. Everyone has a story, everyone has lost a loved one, but no-one understands.
To feel that Dustin's death was for a reason- I don't. I feel it was another lesson for Jonathan. When I am told to
have faith in the justice system, I did...and it has let me and way too many other people down. We are a society that revolves
around money, yet a judge can says that Wagoner County and Oklahoma Tax payers can't afford to house another inmate. Jonathan
CONFESSED to Driving while DRUNK, turning off his headlights, Running a Stop Sign. He PLED guilty. Yet my Brother's life is
only worth 168 days in jail (oh and it's one weekend a month, like community service)...because WAGONER County thinks Oklahoma
cannot afford it. Well, the next time....Judge Sewell or any judge comes up for re-election use your Internet and take a few
minutes to research their history before just checking a box. You never know when you or a loved one could be at their mercy.
I truly hope Judge Sewell never has a loved one taken this way for nobody should, but I have to wonder if he would feel as
money conscious then, as with my Brother now.
As for Jonathan, don't get me started. Yes, I understand this could have
been anyone. As for Jonathan's Father showing up at my Mother's place of business 3 times. I feel this was not fair, she
agreed to speak with him each time, and she didn't have to, yet in the first visit he mention Dustin, and how he had met him
and liked him, that Dustin worked with his oldest son, and the 2 younger son's went and worked out with Dustin at the Gym.
That he was very sorry this had happened. That was all out of three visits that was mention about our family..and that he
knew Dustin and I were close. And from that point on the total of 5 hours worth of conversation was towards the devistation
this has brought on his entire family. IF this would have been my Mother in Mr. Singleton's situation, she would have gone
to him also, because she said she understood why he was fighting for Jonathan, as she would for Dustin. I know my Mother would
have gone to the Singletons, but she would probably offered myself her first born. Because her thoughts would have only been
on their family, in his presence. Growing up Dustin and I sometimes called my mother "mommy dearest" for we always had to
pay for our consequences. Something I feel may not have been in Jonathan's past. On my 16th birthday I was given a car, when
I was 16 years and 1 day old, I got it taken away-while my mother drove it home, and I walked beside her. The mistake I made,
I never repeated. Like all families our family has had its fair share of heartache and trouble. But we were taught, it's not
the circumstances that life gives you, but how you get through them. It saddens me that instead of trying to help my mother
who lost her only son, his concerns were only for his family.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. I am sick at the
way all of this has been handled. I have been cool and collected for a year. I am Sad, Upset, and devastated. I need anyone
and everyone's help. PLEASE let us know what you think! Thanks You for reading this, Brooke
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Mother's Statement.....
My Name is Toni Gunter.
I am or was Dustin Gunter's Mother. As Dustin's mother I could write forever on why and how much I miss him. If you are a
parent I only have to say, "My Son is Dead!"
If your not a parent yet it would be hard to understand the feelings
of Love, Worry, Joy and Pain of raising children. The dreams of what tomorrow might bring or the years down the road when
you sit back and watch their families grow as you grow older. From the start of this nightmare I've fought family and friends
on behalf of the Drunk Driver that killed Dusty. In Oklahoma, first degree manslaughter carries a 4 year to life sentence.
I knew nothing about the laws pertaining to these charges. I started researching every avenue to learn far too much about
something I never wanted to know. After reading case after case with numerous circumstances and talking to dozens of people
I felt comfortable with Jonathan's age and background 4-5 years of incarceration would be more than fair to everyone concerned.
Family and Friends would not accept my conclusion, so I stood alone but never changed my mind. For the reason I have stated
I feel I have MORE than a right to be offended about the sentence District Judge Bruce Sewell of Wagoner County gave to John
Singleton December 15th, 2002, on the one year anniversary of my Son's death.
Judge Sewell sentenced Singleton to
various community service, restitution, probation and (1) one weekend in the county jail a month for 7 years just miles form
his home.
Judge Sewell said John had made a terrible mistake.
I can tell you Dustin Gunter was not a mistake
when he was born, nor a mistake when he died!
The only mistake could be Dustin was in Jonathan's path when he turned
his lights out and drove thru a stop sign on his trip home from the bar.
It was said that Jonathan had not been in
trouble before and in no trouble since, and that he had not had a drink since the wreck. I WOULD LOVE to have 5 minutes with
a Drunk Driver that took a life, and then drank again. So I don't see any points for him.
I am not against drinking,
only against the selfish that get behind the wheel to go home because their finished for the night, then finish someone's
life on the way home.
Jonathan said at the sentencing that "I just went out probably the same reason he did, just to
go out and have fun, not to go out and hurt anybody." Dustin was riding with an alcohol level of .02 and didn't hurt anybody.
Jonathan was driving with a .15 alcohol level and took Dustin's life.
I am still on a mission to find out all of the
details on the last hours of my Son's life. It seems more than some are not willing to admit.
I don't think it's asking
to much for a Mother to know the last hours of her Son's life!
I am sending this letter along with any emails to District
attorney Richard Gray and Asst. D.A. Gary Huggins. Their office treated our family with nothing but respect. They talked to
us often, but more than that they listened to how we felt. This was very appreciated because victims families have nothing
to do with the States case. Gary Huggins offered Singleton and his defense 15 years incarceration and 20 years suspended,totaling
35 years.
Now I'm asking for one last visit to the district attorney's office in Wagoner to get a few of my questions
answered that I now have.
If you could please take a minute and give us your opinions on this sentence or information
you may have we would be very grateful and please include your name.
Thank You,
Toni Gunter
mom@mydustin.com
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