An Indiana man, who once worked as a policeman in Ohio, was sentenced to spend 100 years in prison after being found guilty of multiple felony charges. These charges include the attempted murders of his pregnant wife and a sheriff’s deputy. The violent attack took place in December 2022 during a severe snowstorm.
What Happened During the Incident?
Court records show that G. Guilfoyle shot his 23-year-old pregnant wife in the head outside their home in Indiana during a blizzard. After the shooting, he fled carrying their 1-year-old baby, who was only dressed in a onesie, exposing the child to freezing cold.
A snowplow driver saw Guilfoyle walking with the child and alerted the police.
Confrontation with Sheriff’s Deputy
Deputy A. Bawers responded quickly to the call and found Guilfoyle. When the deputy tried to help, Guilfoyle fired at him, hitting the deputy’s bulletproof vest. The deputy returned fire, wounding Guilfoyle, causing him to drop his weapon and the baby. Fortunately, the toddler was unharmed and was taken into protective care.
Guilfoyle was seriously injured, resulting in paraplegia (paralysis of the lower body) and limited use of one arm. He was treated at a hospital before being taken into custody.
Guilfoyle’s Defense and Verdict
During questioning, Guilfoyle said he was hallucinating during the shootings. He tried to use an insanity defense, blaming post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from his time as a police officer. However, his former police chief testified that Guilfoyle had little involvement in the incident he mentioned.
The jury found Guilfoyle guilty but mentally ill.
Victim’s Statement at Sentencing
Guilfoyle’s wife survived the attack but suffered serious injuries, including a permanent shunt in her skull and losing a toe due to frostbite.
During sentencing, she thanked Deputy Bawers for saving her and her daughter. She said, “There are no words to describe how grateful me and my daughter and my family are to you. My daughter and I are safe now, and we and my family can move forward.”