Dozens of victims, families give emotional impact statements at Darrell Brooks sentencing

WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Dozens of victims and family members spoke before a Waukesha County judge during a sentencing hearing on Tuesday for the man convicted of killing six and injuring more than 60 others when driving through the Waukesha Christmas parade last November.

Darrell Brooks was found guilty of 76 charges on Oct. 26. He faces six consecutive life sentences, plus 859 years of confinement.

"Darrell Brooks deserves to be locked up for the rest of his life," Waukesha County District Attorney Sue Opper said.

Many of those who provided impact statements on Tuesday asked the judge to sentence Brooks to the maximum sentence on all counts.

"I would ask the court for a sentence that keeps the defendant, Darrell E. Brooks Jr., away from society forever," Bill Mitchell, a victim, said.

Victims recounted what they witnessed on the day of the attack and what they've endured since.

"Pure and utter terror. That's what it was and that's the impact it still has today," Blazers Baseball President Jeff Rogers said.

Family members for five of the six people killed shared impact statements.

"My world came crashing down at that moment," Sheri Sparks, mother of Jackson and Tucker Sparks, said. "I wish I would have known then that the hug he gave me before I went to sit down was the last hug I would ever get from him. I would have held on to him a lot longer."

Sparks told the court about the ways her family, including Tucker, is still physically and mentally healing.

"I miss Jackson every second of every single day. I feel gutted and broken. It hurts to breathe sometimes. It hurts to live without him here. My mama soul aches for him. I'm emotionally and mentally exhausted. The pain I carry with me every day feels so heavy," Sparks said.

Michael Carlson addressed Brooks as he told the court about the ways his family's life has been forever changed since his sister Tamara Durand was killed.

"Perhaps you can forget what you did, but I can't. November 21 looms as a ground zero day in the story of my life, as I know it does in the lives of so many others," Carlson said.

Both of Jane Kulich's daughters talked about the battle of making it through the holidays without their mother.

"Everywhere we go, there seems to be one empty chair that she should be seated in. A perfect amount of empty space in a family photo where she should be standing or a little moment of silence where she should be laughing or adding to the conversation," Taylor Kulich said.

Chris Owen, the son of Lee Owen, shared more about who his mother was.

"That is what the world lost, and you have the audacity to tell this court that your conscious is clear. I'm sorry Mr. Brooks, there is not a human with a soul on this planet who can snuff that light out, who can steal Lee Owen from this world, and have a clear conscious," Owen said.

Multiple members of Virginia (Ginny) Sorenson's family spoke about her impact on their family, including her husband, David Sorenson. He shared with the court how he imagines the six people killed can still be felt every day.

"When it thunders, I imagine that Jackson is blasting a homerun over the fence. When there is a rainbow, I will imagine the Dancing Grannies -- Ginny, Tammy, Lee and Bill, with them, dancing along its lines. When there's a ray of sunshine poking through the clouds, I will imagine it is Jane smiling down on us. When it snows like it did this morning, I will imagine God's love giving us a blanket in comfort. When I see a blue light, I see this community's commitment to help heal and support each other," Sorenson said.

The Waukesha County Sheriff's Office is investigating a threat that cleared the courtroom for more than an hour on Tuesday.

A press release said an anonymous caller threatened a mass shooting at the courthouse.

Judge Dorow is expected to determine Brooks' sentence on Wednesday afternoon after the defendant and some of his family is given the chance to provide impact statements.

The sentencing hearing continues at 12 p.m. on Wednesday.