The mother of a murdered 5-year-old girl called her daughter's killer a "monster" during a hearing Monday in which Craig Roger Gregerson was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
The sentencing came on the heels of Gregerson's guilty pleas to aggravated murder, a capital offense, and first-degree felony kidnapping. In a deal crafted by prosecutors and endorsed by the parents of Destiny Norton, Gregerson escaped the possibility of receiving the death penalty.
Also in court, 3rd District Judge Robin Reese accepted as part of the record a handwritten letter of apology penned by Gregerson and addressed to the Norton family.
"You have every right to hate me, every right to want me dead and every right to never forgive me," Gregerson wrote. "I take full responsibility for your daughters (sic) death. But her death was not the worst part, what I did after she was dead was inexcusable, sick, and disgusting. I hate myself for what I did. I am in terrible pain every day because your daughter is dead by my actions. She should still be with you . All I can say is I'm sorry. The words are small but they are so sincere. Sincerely, Craig Gregerson."
The victim's mother, Rachael Norton, was allowed to read a statement in court and described her daughter as "a good kid with lots of dreams about life."
Her voice trembling at times, she went on to call Gregerson a monster.
"That man took everything from us when he took her," she said.
Gregerson, 20, was charged with murdering Destiny Norton, 5, who authorities say was lured from her back yard, suffocated by Gregerson when she started to scream and then sexually abused after her death.
Police, neighbors, volunteer searchers and family members spent a frustrating eight days looking for Destiny before her body was discovered concealed in a plastic storage container in Gregerson's Salt Lake basement.
Authorities say Gregerson used cleaning materials to mask the smell of her decomposing body.
The state Medical Examiner's office has said the child's death was consistent with smothering and that there were signs of postmortem sexual injuries.
E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com