SCOTTSVILLE, Ky. (WTVF) — The mother of Gabbi Doolin has released a statement after Timothy Madden pleaded guilty to killing her daughter.
Amy Doolin's statement said the four years since Gabbi’s death have “taken a hard toll” on their family.
Doolin says sentencing for Madden will take place on October 23 and 24. There will be a mini-trial of sorts where prosecutors will spell out the details of what Madden did to Gabbi and the evidence against him.
Madden pleaded guilty to four felony counts at a surprise hearing Saturday in Allen County, Kentucky – less than two weeks before he was set to stand trial on Sept. 4. He will serve life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Amy Doolin said she was in court during the hearing when Madden admitted to the crimes in accepting the plea.
"I could feel myself wanting to scream, 'why why did you do this? Why did you take my baby?'" Amy Doolin said.
Gabbi was with her family before she disappeared at a football game at Allen County-Scottsville High School on Nov. 14, 2015.
Within a half-hour, crews found her body in a nearby creek. Madden was arrested and initially denied any involvement, but authorities said DNA evidence linked him to the crime.
“You have a criminal being housed… sitting on death row… secluded from anyone for 30+ years before they finally get a needle in their arm and go to sleep. That being said the monster is a Gazillion % Guilty [sic] of all charges committed against our sweet Gabbi. We know that without a shadow of a doubt and have known it since the DNA evidence returned,” Amy Doolin said in a statement provided to NewsChannel 5.
Madden had been in custody for the last four years and pleaded guilty to murder, kidnapping, first-degree rape, and first-degree sodomy.
“Will any of it bring her back or heal our broken hearts? Absolutely not. Although we are thankful that God was merciful to us and this part of our nightmare is coming to an end. We are so thankful for every single prayer that is prayed for us and everyone who honors and remembers Gabbi,” she said.
Amy Doolin said she was prepared for a long trial if needed. She told NewsChannel 5 she was convinced Madden would be convicted due to DNA evidence found on both Madden and her daughter that linked him to the crime.
She said the death penalty was something she'd considered, but when Madden's lawyer broached the idea of a plea deal, the family decided a life sentence instead of a death would end the painful litigation.
"We feel like this was the more and best justice under the law we could get for Gabbi," Amy Doolin said. "We're not going to have to sit through him appealing and appealing and being dragged back to court and we just felt this was the best thing that could happen."
Read her full statement below:
To say yesterday (Saturday) was a long and emotional day is an understatement.
Four long, hard years of pain, anguish, mental, emotional and even physical grief have taken a hard toll on us.
We lost our sweet baby girl ( Gabbi ) on November 14th, 2015.
Yesterday (Saturday) was Aug 24th, 2019.
Let that sink in.
I was going to wait and try to collect my thoughts more, but the more I see and read on here and from the news media I believe I need to put the rumors and assumptions and all to rest.
First of all The Commonwealth, Brian and I did NOT offer up a plea deal to the defense last week to set this in motion for the court proceedings.
The defense had previously asked if we would consider one and so before trial was ready to begin yesterday was the deadline for them to bargain.
Also, know this, we did not want the death penalty to be followed out.
The fact is, the death penalty is not ultimate justice -- even though according to law that is the worst punishment you can get.
It is not to us.
You have a criminal being housed ... sitting on death row ... secluded from anyone for 30+years before they finally get a needle in their arm and go to sleep.
That being said the monster is a Gazillion % Guilty of all charges committed against our sweet Gabbi.
We know that without a shadow of a doubt and have known it since the DNA evidence returned.
It proved the first time that there was NO chance of it being anyone else on this planet.
He (Timothy Madden) was NOT covering for anyone.
People are so upset and worried over the Alford plea deal on two of the charges.
Don't be.
We are not.
It's the same outcome ... nothing different in the end at all.
He (Madden) is going to be sentenced in October to LIFE WITHOUT POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE.
He will be in the penitentiary with lots of friends surrounding him -- not secluded from everyone until death whenever that may be.
Him pleading out yesterday we feel was the best thing that could happen.
We no longer are facing a long drawn out trial process.
He had to admit guilt and so he finally lost all those Constitutional Rights he has had all this time and CANNOT appeal while in the pen either.
Do we feel like Justice is served ???
We don't really know how to feel.
For what happened to Gabbi -- due to the law and justice system all we know is this is the best most Justice we could get for her.
We know and have known Evil Never Wins and God's punishment will be the ultimate punishment.
Will any of it bring her back or heal our broken hearts?
Absolutely not.
Although we are thankful that God was merciful to us and this part of our nightmare is coming to an end.
We are so thankful for every single prayer that is prayed for us and everyone who honors and remembers Gabbi.
She is loved and missed and Always will be .
We are most of all so Thankful to know that when God calls us home, when we step inside the gates we will see Gabbi again and be parted no more for eternity. #tillwemeetagain #AlwaysandForever #RememberGabbi#JusticeforGabbi 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌
