WAUKESHA – Darrell Brooks will spend life in prison six times over for the death and injuries he caused in the 2021 Waukesha Christmas Parade attack.
Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Dorow on Wednesday formally sentenced Brooks to consecutive life sentences for first-degree intentional homicide, with no chance of parole, in the deaths of Tamara Durand, William Hospel, Jane Kulich, Leanna Owen, Jackson Sparks and Virginia Sorenson.
She also sentenced Brooks to 17 1/2 years for each of the 61 counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, or a total of 762 years of initial confinement and 305 years of extended supervision; and 25 years each for the six hit-and-run counts running concurrent to the reckless endangerment charges.
In all, beyond his life sentences, he was sentenced to more than 1,200 years, including extended supervision.
One day after loved ones and victims of the Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy presented impact statements ahead of the sentencing of Darrell Brooks Jr., Brooks himself spoke for more than two hours ahead of what was expected to be a life sentence.
More than 40 victims and family members of victims either took to the stand or submitted written statements, almost all directly addressing Brooks angrily and bluntly. Most also asked Waukesha County Circuit Judge Jennifer Dorow to ensure Brooks would live out his life in prison, with some wishing him only pain for the lives he took or shattered.
Six people died and at least another 61 others were injured when a red Ford Escape SUV driven by Brooks tore through the holiday parade on Nov. 21, 2021. The attack left in its wake what police called a “chaotic” atmosphere as authorities and others scrambled to help victims over a four-block stretch.
Brooks, 40, of Milwaukee was convicted on Oct. 26 on all 76 criminal charges he faced in the parade attack trial: six counts of first-degree intentional homicide, 61 counts of recklessly endangering safety, six counts of hit-and-run causing death, two counts of bail jumping and one misdemeanor count of battery.
Brooks’ 18-day trial represented the end of a long legal process that included dramatic shifts, beginning with charges filed two days after the parade and continuing with pretrial hearings just days before the trial began. The four-week long trial was replete with disruptions and delays from Brooks, who decided just days before the proceedings began that he would represent himself.
Brooks family says he suffers from mental illness and should be treated for it
Prior to sentencing, several relatives and friends, including Brooks’ mother Dawn Woods, spoke on Brooks’ behalf.
Speaking remotely via Zoom, Woods called her son a “broken,” not an uncaring person, despite his courtroom actions and the charges he faced.
“Mental illness affects everyone. It destroys lives and affects family,” Woods said. “It is of no fault of their own that they are ill, and began to change as a person.”
She acknowledged that people who act maliciously out of mental illness should be held accountable, but through medication, therapy and special institutions. Woods said people need to show empathy and compassion in that regard.
“I have been dealing with mental illness for some 30-odd years now, and here’s my take on it,” Woods said. “Jail is not the answer.”
Mary Edwards, Brooks’ grandmother, said she asked to speak for two reasons: to apologize to those hurt by Brooks’ actions in the parade, particularly the family of Jackson Sparks, and to ask for forgiveness.
“Darrell has lost his mind and his life in the outside world,” Edwards said, and explained Brooks has suffered from bi-polar disorder for many years.
Michele Alworth, a close friend who…