The unfortunate sequence of events, now under intense scrutiny, raises questions about how such a tragedy could have been prevented.
Sean M. Higgins, who killed the Gaudreau brothers while driving under the influence, has a complex and troubling history that includes a military background.
According to the Daily Mail, Higgins served as a Major and field artillery officer in the New Jersey National Guard. He was a part-time traditional Drill Status Guardsman, previously attached to the 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Kosovo. Despite his military service, Higgins' actions this week have cast a shadow over his past.
A more disturbing element of Higgins' history has emerged, revealing that this isn't his first encounter with the law due to alcohol-related issues. Court records show that in 2005, Higgins was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) in North Carolina.
Shockingly, the charges were dismissed when the arresting officer failed to appear in court, allowing Higgins to avoid the legal consequences.
He received a speeding ticket in 2001, which was dismissed due to his previously clean driving record.
It's hard not to reflect on how the lives of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau might have been different had Higgins been held accountable for his earlier actions. This lapse in the justice system has led to devastating results nearly two decades later.
This time, the consequences for Higgins are expected to be far more severe, but for the families of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, the justice system's failures only deepen their grief.
Source:
Daily Mail
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AOUT 31 | 191 ANSWERS Troubling history of Johnny Gaudreau's murderer Sean Higgins uncovered Should Sean Higgins be sentenced for more than 20 years? | ||
Yes | 121 | 63.4 % |
Life sentence | 70 | 36.6 % |
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