FAIRFIELD—
Instead of celebrating her son's birthday on Wednesday, Teresa Courtemanche was in court, filing a $16 million wrongful death lawsuit against the two men convicted of his murder, and the woman who drove the getaway car the night of the killing."Today, would have been Matt's 24th birthday. So it was important for me to file that today," she said.
Garcia was a Fairfield City Councilman, who was shot to death in a case of mistaken identity on a Cordelia street on Sept. 1, 2008.
Nicole Stewart, who drove the getaway car, was never charged in Matt's death. She instead testified against the gunman, Henry Williams, who also fathered her child.
Courtemanche says if any money is gleaned from this lawsuit, it will be put right back into the community through the Matt Garcia Foundation, which sponsors youth activity programs and scholarships.
For Garcia's mom, filing the suit represents something deeper.
"The purpose is just to send a message that there are consequences for the decisions you make in life good and bad," Coutemanche said.
Matt's killers will find out the consequence. They'll be sentenced on Monday.
"Nothing's ever gonna bring Matt back. And there's no justice for really taking someone's life," Matt's stepdad, Ray Courtemanche said. "But this is the structure that's here that we're operating in, and we're trusting that."
The family is sharing a quiet celebration for Matt tonight, feeling his presence and guidance throughout the day.
"I just continue to feel him, almost like guiding us, come on mom, go do it, what needs to be done. Do the right thing," Matt's mom said with tears.
