Oxford man gets 45 years for murder of wife, shooting of her mother

AP PHOTO — THE CONNECTICUT POST, BRIAN A. POUNDS, POOL Scott Gellatly stands before the judge during his arraignment May 8, 2014, in Superior Court in Derby. AP PHOTO — THE CONNECTICUT POST, BRIAN A. POUNDS, POOL Scott Gellatly stands before the judge during his arraignment May 8, 2014, in Superior Court in Derby. Photo: AP Photo: AP Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Oxford man gets 45 years for murder of wife, shooting of her mother 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

MILFORD >> Scott Gellatly, 47, was sentenced Tuesday to 45 years in prison for the murder of his estranged wife and shooting of her mother in the family’s Oxford home.

He also was placed on suicide watch.

Gellatly has “zero chance of ever seeing the light of day again,” Superior Court Judge Frank Iannotti told the packed courtroom.

The proceedings had been moved from an earlier room to accommodate the 45 family members and others in the public gallery.

Connecticut State Police responding to Lori Gellatly’s 911 call found the two women at 5:45 a.m. May 7, 2014, in the Jacksons’ Sioux Drive house. The Gellatly twins were at home, but unharmed.

Lori Jackson Gellatly, 32, had four .38-caliber wounds in her head and torso; Merry Jackson was shot four times and lost an eye.

Gellatly took a family vehicle and was found hours later in Winsted trying to commit suicide with a hose hooked up to the exhaust.

Scott Gellatly, when given an opportunity to speak Tuesday, apologized and said he hopes the family will forgive him.

His statements were generally greeted by groans from several in the public gallery.

“I am not a monster. I made a mistake and it was a very big mistake,” Gellatly told the judge. “I know God has forgiven me.”

“Lori is my angel and I will see her in heaven,” Gellatly said.

Iannotti began the sentencing by saying Gellatly committed a “meaningless destruction of life for an act of anger.”

And he questioned Gellatly’s choice of the word “mistake.”

“Taking your wife’s life and trying to take your mother-in-law’s is not a mistake,” he said. It is a calculated, intentional act, he said.

Iannotti said difficulties in everyday life don’t have to end in domestic violence.

Gellatly knew his action was “devastatingly wrong,” the judge said, because he subsequently tried to commit suicide.

Iannotti said Lori’s character was shown during the shooting when she saved her mother’s life.

“She knew she was going to die and she put herself on top of her mother,” Iannotti said.

“It’s sad. It’s just sad. You took the life of your children’s mother,” the judge said.

‘I’D TRADE PLACES’

Several family members told Iannotti of how losing Lori has affected them.

• Merry Jackson said Gellatly had a bad temper and “a controlling rage” toward her daughter.

“He has broken our hearts,” Jackson said as some in the public gallery wept.

“At least we’re safe and we’ll never have to see Scott again,” Jackson said.

“I would trade places with her in a heartbeat,” she said.

• Lori’s sister, Kacey Mason, recounted her actions the day of the attacks, when she found her sister was gone and her mother was in critical condition.

• Gellatly’s act was “cowardly,” and his subsequent flight was gutless, said a cousin, Cindy Taft.

She described the scene at the family home, where the door was kicked in.

“No uncle should ever have to see his niece’s and sister-in-law’s blood on the floor,” Taft said.

Ansonia-Milford State’s Attorney Kevin D. Lawlor asked the judge to impose a 45-year sentence for murder and attempt to commit murder.

This is a case of “unspeakable brutality,” Lawlor told Iannotti.

Gellatly threatened his wife many times and there were outstanding warrants for his arrest, Lawlor said.

“That’s false, that’s false,” Gellatly called out from the defense table, which prompted a reprimand from the judge.

“She was so terrified, she moved in with her parents,” Lawlor said. She had a safety alarm pinned to her nightgown so she wouldn’t have to reach for it, Lawlor said.

Lawlor pointed out Gellatly had no previous criminal record, came from a big family, had a good job, and “was lucky enough to have four children.”

“He throws it all away,” Lawlor said.

The “lenient sentence” of 45 years for “selfish, callous acts” done by a man “obviously narcissistic, will assure Gellatly will sit in an 8-by-10 cell for the rest of his life, Lawlor said.

‘WE WON’

Outside court, Lawlor and Jackson family members reflected on the proceedings.

The family was wearing purple for domestic violence and because it was Lori’s favorite color, Jackson said, and green because she liked that color, too.

“We won. We’re really happy,” said Merry Jackson.

“Lori’s at peace. We know where she is. We can go forward now and start to live our life again,” Jackson said

Jackson said she is “up and around.” in the wake of the shootings.

Gellatly’s attorney, Chief Public Defender David F. Egan, declined to comment after the proceedings.