Judge: 'The story of Eric Frein ends today'
By Marilyn Rosenthal
MILFORD — Tiffany Dickson pointed out Eric Matthew Frein, handcuffed and in prison garb, at his sentencing hearing Thursday.
"He's right there," she told her sons, her arms wrapped tightly around them. "That's what he looks like."
Late the night before, Frein was sentenced to death for murdering the boys' father, Cpl. Bryon Dickson.
The Dickson children, Bryon III, 10, and Adam, 8, sat down next to their mother, surrounded by troopers.
There were high spirits in the gallery over the jury's decision. In the back of the courtroom some jury members hugged and shook hands with Trooper Alex Douglass, who was permanently disabled in Frein's shooting ambush. The prospect of Frein's death brought solace to the victims, their families, and the troopers of the Blooming Grove barracks, who lived through the horror of Sept. 12, 2014, when shots blasted out of the dark woods.
"It is the hope of this court that the story of Eric Frein ends today," said Judge Gregory H. Chelak.
With that, District Attorney Ray Tonkin invited the victims to the podium to tell their story. Much of the information was heard before, when witnesses for the prosecution gave their testimony, this was different. It resembled a memorial service, with a sense of finality.
Tiffany Dickson spoke first, as Tonkin played a slide show she had created. Some of the photos were shown during the trial, but this slide show was more artfully done. There were photos of Bryon and Tiffany at their wedding, photos of their children, photos of all four having fun at family celebrations. In the background played "The Prayer," the Dicksons' wedding song, and Sia's "Helium." There was not a dry eye in the courtroom.
Darla Dickson, Cpl. Dickson's mother, said her son's life served as an example that will live on. She reiterated that she holds Frein accountable but doesn't hate him.
Douglass thanked everyone who supported him during his long recovery. He said it's a struggle to accept that he'll never have his old life back.
Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Tyree Blocker thanked all of the many law enforcement agencies who helped bring Frein to justice.
Major George Bivens, who presided over the manhunt as Deputy Commissioner of Operations, said, "We appreciate all that's been done, and we value our courts as a place of justice for those of us hurt or killed in the line of duty."
The defense had no comments to make.
Two death sentencesJudge Chelak said, "The jury spoke loudly and clearly."
He sentenced Frein to two death sentences — not less than 97 years or more than 194 years — to be served simultaneously in state prison. He also imposed a fine totaling $382,000 for each of the 12 counts of which Frein was found guilty. He added an additional $100,000 fine based on the Crime Victim's Act.
"We are completely satisfied that the jury delivered full justice," Tonkin said.
Frein was escorted out of the courtroom by Sheriff Philip Bueki. He raised his handcuffed hands and waived a little goodbye to his mother, who was seated in the gallery. She stood with her hand over her heart.
Outside the courtroom, Douglass told the press, "These cowards that are out there can't get away with murder or causing severe injury to any law enforcement officer. This goes as an example to show them that they're not going to get away with it."
After a two and a half years, Eric Frein is sentenced to the death penalty by the jury that just days before found him guilty of murder, terrorism and other charges. Pike County District Attorney responds late Wednesday night.
(Video by Preston Ehrler)
After losing one of their own, the Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Colonel Tyree Blocker responds to Eric Frien's death penalty.
(Video by Preston Ehrler)