Meagan Grunwald, the Utah teen who went on a murderous crime spree with her late boyfriend last year, was forgiven by the widow of Sgt. Cory Wride during a sentencing hearing on Wednesday.
"I want you to know from the bottom of my heart, you were forgiven immediately," Nannette Wride told Grunwald, crying as she spoke,
according to The Salt Lake Tribune.
"You are forgiven and, sweet girl, I hope you can forgive yourself."
Grunwald was given a sentence of 25 years-to-life in prison with the chance of parole for aggravated murder, and another five years for aggravated robbery.
Grunwald was convicted in May of the first-degree felony aggravated murder of Sgt. Cory Wride on Jan. 30, 2014. Then 17, she reportedly drove a getaway vehicle after she and her boyfriend were pulled over by Wride. The boyfriend, 27-year-old Jose Angel Garcia-Jauregui, had a warrant out for his arrest, and shot Wride, killing him.
A police chase ensued, and Grunwald drove as Garcia-Jauregui shot at police from the vehicle, hitting Utah County Sheriff's Deputy Greg Sherwood in the head. Sherwood ultimately survived, but Garcia-Jauregui was soon killed in a shootout with police.
"My family and I are not going to let this incident ruin us," Sherwood told the judge during the sentencing hearing. "My family and I are not going to let anger, hatred, and bitterness consume us. We would look forward to closure and are still trying to find our new normal. We have forgiveness for Meagan so we can move forward."
Other members of Wride's family also spoke of second chances for Grunwald, and said they were happy she would one day have the chance of leaving prison.
"As a mother and an educator, I realize that young people don't always make good choices," Wride's mother Kathy told the judge. "She is young, but by law, she must pay the penalty . . . I also believe in second chances."
Grunwald herself also offered an apology to the victims and their families.
"I’m very sorry for any pain or loss I have caused," Grunwald sobbed. "I do regret all of my actions . . . It's hard for me to ask for forgiveness when I cannot forgive myself."