MILFORD -- In November, Scott and Lori Gellatly’s twin children will celebrate their 3rd birthdays. That same month, their father will be sentenced to 45 years in prison.
Tuesday afternoon, in Milford Superior Court, Scott Gellatly, 47, pleaded guilty to murder in the May 2014 shooting death of his estranged wife, Lori Gellatly, 32. During that same incident, Gellatly also shot his mother-in-law, Merry Jackson, in the head. She lost sight in one eye.
"I know he would've loved to kill me because he didn't like me," said Jackson, who called her daughter an angel and her best friend. Gellatly's plea means he will go to prison for 45 years, instead of the 80 years he faced if he was convicted on both charges in a trial.
"This is going to help tremendously," said Jackson. "This is a big victory for my daughter. We're so happy it's over with."
The prosecution still considers the plea deal a life sentence according to Kevin D. Lawlor, State’s Attorney for Ansonia-Milford Judicial District.
"With 45 years to serve on a murder, he's going to have to serve every single day. And I think that that will bring him about his 90th birthday," added Lawlor.
Around 5:45 a.m., on the morning of May 7, 2014, Lori Gellatly, who had a restraining order in place against her estranged husband, dialed 9-1-1, saying Scott Gellatly was attempting to break into her parents home, where she was living with their children. When police arrived, it was too late.
"She loved her kids tremendously," said Jackson. "And it breaks my heart that she's not here to bring them up."
The children are now being raised by another member of the Jackson family.
Scott Gellatly is due to be sentenced November 17.