Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. It just reminds me that we had so much life and loudness with Jesse just bounding off the walls with vibrating energy all the time, and it spread out to the four corners of the property.". Plaintiff Robbie Parker, father of deceased Sandy Hook Elementary school student Emilie Parker, arrives at the Alex Jones defamation trial jury deliberation at Superior Court in Waterbury, Conn. on Wednesday, October 12, 2022. WATERBURY A six-member jury awarded eight Sandy Hook families and a federal agent defamed by Alex Jones $965 million in damages and . "It seems so incredible to me that we have to do this that we have to implore you, to punish you to get you to stop lying," Lewis said. Lewis and her husband, Neil Heslin, are seeking at least $150 million in damages, and have outlined how they have been harassed, threatened and even had their home shot at by people believing Jones' lies about the mass shooting. Plaintiffs Nicole Hockley, left, and Erica Lafferty hug following the jury verdict and reading of monetary damages in the Alex Jones defamation trial at Superior Court in Waterbury, Conn. on Wednesday, October 12, 2022. Lewis said that one Christmas morning, an individual drove into her driveway in Connecticut and began taking pictures of her and her home. "I lost my son. Plaintiff William Sherlach, left, hugs attorney Josh Koskoff while plaintiff Nicole Hockley hugs attorney Chris Mattei following the jury verdict and reading of monetary damages in the Alex Jones defamation trial at Superior Court in Waterbury, Conn. on Wednesday, October 12, 2022. Lewis brother Jesse, who was a first-grader when he was killed, has been credited with saving others after he shouted for his classmates to run while the gunman paused to reload, Jesse was shot moments later. "'Watch your back, we're watching you, we're coming after you,'" Alissa Parker said as she listed some of the comments. And I dont understand.. You can access him any time that you want, not in the form that you want we want that physical form; the one we're used to and see and feel and touch and experience but he's still here.". Lt. Gov. When she's not working she can be found hanging out with her animal companions Spot and Morgan and her six grandchildren. This is a carousel. But here's the thing: SEL actually does raise test scores, according to research, by an average of 11 percentage points. Sandy Hook is a hard truth.". The jury has ordered Alex Jones to pay $45.2 million in punitive damages for defaming the parents of Jesse Lewis, a 6-year-old killed in the Sandy Hook shooting. But you always have that longing. Sandy Hook, 10 years later: Scarlett Lewis says her son Jesse's bravery, and his message of "Nurturing Healing Love," are what get her out of bed. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. You are under oath.". "You may say that's astronomical," Mattei told the jury in his closing arguments. Please enter valid email address to continue. Scarlett Lewis also described threatening emails that seemed to have uncovered deep details of her personal life. These programs work. He had the opportunity to Skype with a group of Rwandan genocide survivors, who shared their experiences with loss, survival and resilience. With help from friends, Lewis founded the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement and combined the most effective elements of SEL school programs into one curriculum, and made it free. Alex Jones walks into the courtroom in front of Scarlett Lewis and Neil Heslin, the parents of 6-year-old Sand Hook shooting victim Jesse Lewis, at the Travis County Courthouse in Austin, Texas, July 28, 2022. You have, this week. Im listening.. started an organization called Newtown Helps Rwanda and raises money to send orphaned Rwandan genocide survivors to college. Heslin, who also testified on Tuesday, said that Jones made their lives a "living hell" filled with abuse and trauma from his followers. "A jury in Connecticut today sent a strong message that what he did to these families and a first responder was disgraceful.. "It's fear for your life," Scarlett Lewis said. Scarlett Lewis remembers her son Jesse, murdered at age 6, as always happy, loud and full of energy. The nearly $1 billion award in the Waterbury trial is on top of a $49 million judgement to the parents of Jessie Lewis who also died in the shooting issued against Jones by a Texas jury in August in a similar trial. We realized we had to forgive the killers, one of the Rwandan survivors told them, or we would go down the same path., All right, God, Lewis remembers thinking. If Jesse could use the last moments of his life to save his friends, I certainly can get up every morning and do everything in my power to ensure we have a safer, more peaceful, loving world. You dont think you have that courage, but you do. Lewis and Jesse's father, Neil Heslin, are among several Sandy Hook families that have filed lawsuits against Jones arguing that his statements that the attack was a hoax have led to years of . ", At one point, Lewis asked Jones: "Do you think I'm an actor?". The little boy who just wanted someone to hear his moms call for help is grown up, Lewis said in the video. Earlier that day, Jones was on his broadcast program telling his audience that Heslin is "slow" and being manipulated by bad people. "It wouldn't stop, it was a full on assault, the words people were using were so scary," she recalled on the stand while crying. I didn't have the heart totake it down," dad Neil Heslin says. ', The foundation was inspired by a message that Jesse had left on their kitchen chalkboard with the words 'nurturing,' 'healing' and 'love. In all three cases, families sued Jones on grounds he defamed them repeatedly during his broadcasts. I'm fashionably late, baby! Jones had around 900,000 followers on Twitter and InfoWars had about 430,000 when those were removed, also in 2018. Jesse left a little note for J.T. I know that youre a father, Lewis told Jones at the time. U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., applauded the verdict, but warned it wouldn't alone stop misinformation. And my son existed.". For years, she and her husband have faced harassment from people believing that her child's death was staged but on Tuesday, she had the chance to confront the man who's been at the helm of propagating such falsehoods. "I can't even describe the last nine and a half years, the living hell that I and others have had to endure because of the recklessness and negligence of Alex Jones," Heslin said. In a separate trial, Jones was ordered to pay nearly $1 billion to Sandy Hook families and an FBI first responder. "That perked them up a bit, and one had a twinkle in his eye," she adds. "I know his hate, lies, and conspiracy theories will follow me and my family through the rest of our days. Safia Samee Ali is a reporter for NBC News Digital, based in Chicago. Scarlett Lewis remembers a time when she thought she could never forgive. In August, she confronted Jones in court during a defamation trial. The jury also ordered Jones to pay "reasonable" attorney fees for the 15 plaintiffs. Jones is facing several lawsuits from Sandy Hook families who allege that his claims led to years of abuse. And I accepted it right when it happened. "I believe that he would have been a soldier or a first responder, a police officer or a public servant in the role of protector," she says. Contributed Photo Show More Show . I want to be the billion-dollar man., He then urged viewers to donate to "save Infowars," adding the trial was a political hit job and said he was actually proud to be under this level of attack.. The jury was shown a school picture of a smiling Jesse taken two weeks before he was killed. Rex Features/AP Photo I didnt like it, I knew I couldnt change it, but I wasnt going to let it ruin my life or destroy my life anymore than it already has., Its really important to stay busy, keep your mind active, he says, even though you always find yourself in the distance a lot just thinking about Jesse., 9 Years After Sandy Hook, Families Share Sorrow and How They're Keeping Victims' Legacies Alive, Sandy Hook Families Reject Alex Jones' 'Desperate' Offer to Settle Defamation Case, Sandy Hook Dad Responds to Texas School Shooting: 'Sadly, I Know the Unspeakable Pain', Barack Obama Addresses Uvalde Shooting Nearly 10 Years After Sandy Hook: 'Our Country Is Paralyzed', Mom of Unsolved Murder Victim Will Wear Orange this Weekend to 'Prevent the Next Senseless Gun Death', President Joe Biden Addresses Shooting at Texas Elementary School: 'I Am Sick and Tired of It', Senator Chris Murphy Asks Lawmakers 'What Are We Doing?' We tallied the votes from this years Best of the Capital Region contest in 100 categories. PARAMUS, NJ - On Sunday, December 8, 2019, U.S. The parents, both of whom testified Tuesday, have asked that Jones pay $150 million for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The pioneering heart operation that only takes an hour and doesn't leave a scar is performed on first Briton. WATERBURY A six-member jury awarded eight Sandy Hook families and a federal agent defamed by Alex Jones $965 million in damages and emotional distress in a momentous verdict on Wednesday that came after close to three full days of deliberation. Jesse Lewis may refer to: Jesse Lewis, . "To go back to what Robbie Parker said, all Alex Jones does is take from you, exploit you, lie to you, feed your fears and your anxiety and your mistrust and the person that benefits from that equation is him. After Texas Elementary School Shooting, 'I Do Not Want My Son to Go to School in America Anymore,' Says Mom of Uvalde Student, 9 Years After Sandy Hook Massacre, Newtown Students Attend Classes Remotely Amid Threats to Other Schools, Rolling with Life's Ups and Downs Can Prevent Bullying and School Shootings, Says Sandy Hook Mom, Alex Jones Is Liable for Damages After False Claims that Sandy Hook Shooting Was Hoax, Judge Rules, Barack Obama Remembers Sandy Hook as 'One of the Darkest Days' of His Presidency on Shooting Anniversary, Return to Newtown: How the Sandy Hook Victims Live on in the Hearts and Work of Their Families, Sandy Hook Parents Return to New School and 'Sacred Ground' at Site of Mass Shooting, Sandy Hook Dad Returns to 'Sacred Ground': The Site of 6-Year-Old Son's Death in School Massacre, Powerful New PSA Spotlights Plight of School Shooting Survivors Who Lost Their 'Teenage Dream'. Dec. 14 is particularly painful: Heslin lost his son on that day in 2012 and, five years earlier, lost his mother on the same day. I am a mother, first and foremost, and I know you're a father. (Cultivating Authentic Relationships in the Education System), Experiential Educator Wellness Workshops for school leaders and educators. J.T. Neil Heslin, father of 6-year-old Sandy Hook shooting victim Jesse Lewis, testifies Tuesday at the Alex Jones trial in Austin, Texas. **This video touches on the Sandy Hook tragedy and Jesse's death. Another encounter after Jesses death put Lewis and her older son J.T. This jury sent a message to Alex Jones that his disgusting and reprehensible behavior will not be tolerated.. "The Sandy Hook families deserve every dollar coming to them from Alex Jones," he tweeted. The new evidence also suggests that Lanza might have started in Soto's room. Hollywood writers go on strike over fair pay in streaming era, Missing teens likely among 7 people found dead in Oklahoma, authorities say, Fish contaminated with "forever chemicals" found in nearly every state, Gordon Lightfoot, "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" singer, dies at 84, CBS News Poll: How GOP primary race could be Trump v. Trump fatigue, Oklahoma governor signs gender-affirming care ban for kids, American climber dies on Mount Everest, expedition organizer says, Bob Lee died from three stab wounds, medical examiner says, At least 6 dead after dust storm causes massive pile-up on Illinois highway, Sandy Hook parent blames Alex Jones for years of "hell".
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