Max Townsend Sentenced for Deaths of Moore High School Students
Mike Seals - August 20, 2021 10:51 am
CLEVELAND COUNTY, Okla. — KOCO NEWS 5
Max Townsend was sentenced to life in prison for a crash that killed Moore High School students — three life sentences for a man who killed three local high school students.
That was the sentence that was handed down Thursday for Max Townsend.
Townsend ran a truck into a group of Moore cross country runners in February 2020.
Family members spoke to the judge Thursday at the formal sentencing. A jury recommended life in prison.
District Judge Lori Walkley said she was sentencing him to life – ensuring he will never be free again.
Townsend was silent, saying nothing to the judge or families. The mothers of the three children he was convicted of killing did speak to the judge. They asked for justice.
“I wanted to show that the life sentence handed down to him today was deserving. We wanted justice for our kids and I wanted to show that Kolby deserved justice for what he went through,” said Tansey Hellbusch, mother of Kolby Crum.
Crum, Yuridia Martinez, and Rachel Freeman were killed when Townsend drove his truck into them while they were out running. Townsend had just lost his own son in a different car crash the day before.
Martinez’s mother hoped Townsend could seek forgiveness.
“Our trust is in the Lord for Him to bring justice and for one day for Mr. Townsend to actually have some remorse and ask for forgiveness,” said Yuridia’s mother, Erika. “That way, one day, he can see his son. The pain of losing a child is unexplainable. It’s – it’s something I don’t wish – not even on him.”
Prosecutors said Townsend hasn’t shown any remorse and hasn’t admitted he did anything wrong – even since being found guilty.
“It’s sad to know that Max Townsend had no remorse. For the lives – taking the lives of our children. But the impact that our children left – he can’t take that away,” said Freeman’s mother, Jody.
Townsend’s lawyer didn’t fight the life sentence. He asked the judge for the possibility Townsend could be paroled when he’s 94. The judge denied the request.
