Jacob Gipson, 26, will serve 15 years to life for his role in the slaying of 45-year-old John Grachek. He was also sentenced to 10 years for aggravated burglary and an additional 10 years for aggravated robbery.
Police say Gipson, along with Grachek’s estranged wife Jamie Grachek, 33, and 26-year-old Gary Webb, broke into Grachek’s home on Rosegarden Court. Grachek was shot multiple times and was found lying outside of his residence, officials said. He later died from his injuries at an area hospital.
“I am truly sorry,” tearful Gipson said during his sentencing. “I never would have participated in this if I knew this was going to happen.”
Jamie Grachek and Webb were sentenced to 21 years to life and 18 years to life, respectively, for their roles in the crime.
John Grachek’s family were at the sentencing. His children are going to have a very difficult Christmas because their mother was involved in the murder, but they want to give the gift of forgiveness to everyone involved, his sister Christina Grachek said.
“We just want to let you know from our hearts we’re sad,” a sobbing Christina Grachek said. “But we hope that in time you can accept this free gift that is offered, even to you.”
Update @3:30 p.m. (Dec. 17):
A third person involved in the 2013 shooting death of a Riverside man may spend the rest of his life in prison.
Jacob Gipson appeared in court Wednesday afternoon and was sentenced to 15 years to life for murder, 10 years for complicity to commit aggravated burglary and 10 years for complicity to commit aggravated robbery.
First take:
A Fairborn woman was sentenced Wednesday to 21 years in prison for her role in the shooting death of her estranged husband.
While Jamie Grachek, 33, pleaded guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter, aggravated burglary, complicity to commit aggravated robbery and forgery last month, she told Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Dennis Adkins during her sentencing that she was coerced by her attorney out of fear to enter that plea.
“(My attorney) had no defense on my behalf,” Grachek said. “Your honor, I am guilty of some things, but not everything.”
Adkins clarified with Grachek that she knowingly took the plea, and still wished to proceed before sentencing her. She also will serve a mandatory five years of probation once released from prison.
Grachek drove two acquaintances, Gary G. Webb Jr., 30, and Jacob Gipson, 26, to the home of her husband, 45-year-old John Grachek, on March 31, 2013, to rob him. The three entered the Rosegarden Court in Riverside on Easter Sunday, and during a 911 call several gunshots were heard. Police found John Grachek lying outside the home suffering from gunshot wounds, and he later died at the hospital.
John Grachek’s family filled the courtroom gallery for the sentencing hearing. His older sister, Donna Maas, spoke at the hearing and told Grachek her role in the killing affected their family.
“You were the participant in a plan that took our brother’s life, his breath, his dreams and his hopes,” Maas said. “The fact is, when a life is taken, a price has to be paid, according to our laws and our family will trust in that judicial system.”
Grachek and her husband were involved in a custody dispute at the time of the shooting. She told a judge she was sorry her children and stepchildren had to suffer for her actions.
“They’re the ones most affected by this tragedy and not only lost a father but a mother as well,” she said.
As part of her sentence, Grachek was ordered to pay restitution totaling $1,968.21.
Her co-defendants also pleaded guilty to charges relating to her husband’s murder. Webb was sentenced to 18 years to life in prison and Gipson is awaiting sentencing, according to the prosecutor’s office.
About the Author