A Plymouth County jury Tuesday convicted a Marshfield man who was drunk when he sped through a red light and plowed into an SUV, killing a 13-year-old Plymouth girl and severely injuring her mother and a friend.
Gregory Goodsell, 36, was found guilty of all counts related to the 2019 crash that killed Claire Zisserson, including second degree murder, manslaughter and motor vehicle homicide. His lawyer had argued that murder required intent, and he had none because he was too intoxicated.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 3. He faces a life sentence, with the possibility of parole after 15 years.
Goodsell had been drinking all night — and using cocaine — before the early morning crash on Dec. 29, 2019, prosecutors said. The drinking started before a Christmas party hosted by his employer, Rockland-based Highway Safety Systems, at the Pembroke Knights of Columbus.
He continued to drink until the early morning, including at an afterparty held at the Pembroke home of the company’s owner, according to assistant district attorney Russell Eonas.
Other partygoers urged Goodsell not to drive, but he got into his company truck, a white Ford F-250, anyway, striking a tree as he drove off, prosecutors charged.
He allegedly sped away — at one point going as fast as 95 mph — before running a red light at the intersection of Oak and Church streets (Route 139) at 6:50 a.m.
He plowed into the Suburu Outback, which was attempting to make a left turn at the intersection. At the point of impact, prosecutors said, Goodsell was going 67 mph. His blood alcohol level tested by state police was .266 — more than three times the legal limit.
Police found a bottle of whiskey, a beer can, two nip bottles, marijuana, and a pipe in Goodsell’s truck, prosecutors said.
Elizabeth Zisserson, her daughter Claire, and friend Kendall Zemotel were going snowboarding in New Hampshire for Claire’s 14th birthday.
Claire, a student at Rising Tide Charter School in Plymouth, later died at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Her mother and Kendall were severely injured in the crash. The two girls were in the back seat.
Kendall, who was 12 at the time and also a student at Rising Tide, testified last week in Plymouth County Superior Court that she didn’t awaken from the crash until Valentine’s Day 2020 — more than six weeks later.
In court, she ticked off a long list of injuries and physical problems— from her head to her feet, including broken bones, headaches, speaking difficulties, and vision problems. She said she has balance issues and nerve damage, and one arm is weaker than the other.
Kendall said she has undergone physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.
The jury, which deliberated for more than 10 hours, also found Goodsell guilty of two counts of operating under the influence causing serious bodily injury and leaving the scene of property damage.
He has been held at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility off Long Pond Road on $500,000 bail since the accident.
His lawyer, Kenneth Van Colen, did not deny that Goodsell was driving intoxicated. But he argued that was not in a state of mind to know what he was doing so shouldn’t be convicted of murder. He didn’t “decide to kill somebody,” he said in court.
Dozens of the Zissersons’ friends and neighbors were at the Plymouth courthouse when the verdict was announced.
Her mother was too emotional to comment. But she has described her daughter as a “ray of sunshine.”
Claire’s obituary described her as a “bright, kind and caring girl with a beautiful heart.” She was also a “gifted athlete” with a passion for soccer, basketball, cross county and tennis.
Matt Muratore and his wife, Kristin, neighbors and close friends of the Zissersons for 20 years, attended most days of the two-week trial.
“It’s been a long journey for the family, friends and neighbors,” said Muratore, who is a local state representative and candidate for state senate.
“Everyone is pleased with the verdict, although it doesn’t bring Claire back. Hopefully, it will serve as a lesson for people who are out at night drinking and decide to drive,” he said.
Claire’s death, Muratore said, hit her friends, family, and neighbors hard. Each of them remembers where they were when they got the news, he said. His family was in New Hampshire and immediately returned to Plymouth.
Beth Stone, spokeswoman for Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz, said it is deferring comment until Goodsell’s sentencing.
Van Colen did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Andrea Estes can be reached at andrea@plymouthindependent.org.