As if things couldn't get any worse!! How brilliant of Mark to come up with sudden amnesia!! Is this for real?! Wonder who advised him on this one, or did he come up with this ridiculous idea on his own. Either is possible, as something tells me he has made a habit of disobeying the law and then focuses on how he is going to get himself out of trouble "after" the fact. Well at least Mark can continue with his lies now, since he can't remember!! Mark had prior run-ins with the law and was ordered "NOT" to be drinking at all!!! This shows intentional disregard for the law as well as it's consequences. This sickens our family and further adds to the lifelong wound. At minimum, he should have the decency and remorse to tell the truth. There is no doubt that Mark knew immediately what had happened when he had to maneuver himself out of the bloody vehicle containing his "dead" friend (or what what left of him) and proceed to flee such a brutal scene. How convenient that his memory was able to return enough to call himself a getaway ride. Well guess what........
OUR FAMILY DOES NOT HAVE A SINGLE DAMN PLEA, LIE, OR EXCUSE THAT WILL CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF "OUR" SENTENCE THAT WE WILL HAVE TO FACE FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES!! I have news for all those who pitty him, that the word "coward" would be a "minimal" description of what would deem appropriate. I hope Mark truly believes all of his lies, as to alleviate himself of his own conscience if he in fact has one. My intention for even an attempt at healing, is to do whatever I "legally" can to ensure that Mark pays the maximum penalty for his actions and continual "deliberate" defiance of the law. No family should have to go through the loss of their loved one "FOREVER" and have to bear such pain at the hands of a known "REPEAT" offender. This is a shameful disgrace. Too often it occurs where the punishement just doesn't fit the crime. There may be some bleeding Mark fans who will choose to put in their two cents, however I challenge "YOU" to put yourself in "OUR" shoes. Our entire family is stuck paying the ultimate undisputed lifelong price for Mark's deliberate and selfish behavior. I find it hard to acknowledge that anyone would have pitty and think for one minute that any consequences in which Mark would receive, in any way compares to what we are going through. Until you have walked in these shoes, perhaps you could muster up the decency to display some compassion and keep "YOUR" poor Mark comments to yourself!!! Mark has a chance to recover from his actions if he so chooses, and his family has him here!! THAT OPTION FOR OUR FAMILY (OR CASEY FOR THAT MATTER), HAS BEEN "UNECCESSARILY" TAKEN FROM US FOREVER, AND WE HAVE NO RECOURSE TO CHANGE IT. Does anyone really believe that we should just "get over it" now and have compassion for Mark? If you think this, then you surely will be disappointed to know that IT IS NOT HAPPENING FOLKS!!! For one who habitually displays deliberate defiance for the law and/or it's consequences until it ultimately results in killing someone, lacks empathy, accoutability and respect for others and displaying his only regard in how he is going to get out of the crime he committed, IS BY FAR NOT WORTHY OF COMPASSION!! Mark should have taken his obvious previous run-ins with the law as a warning sign and/or wake-up call that his behavior and actions were not only unacceptable but dangerous and out of control. If Mark had done so or even followed the provisions ordered by the Law, this would not have had to happen to our family. This was "no accident" and most certainly avoidable. Sadly, not even the courts order stopped Mark's selfish and dangerous behavior. So tell me then, WHAT WILL?!!!

Can't imagine the depth of your pain resulting from the death of Casey. Getting in "your shoes" would be impossible. Your anger is totally understandable. and whatever sentence is given, will it really be enough?, would any sentence make you feel good? Your healing will never come from the justice that is given to Mark. The last line of your comment

"Sadly, not even the courts order stopped Mark's selfish and dangerous behavior. So tell me then, What will?"

Your healing and Mark's needed change can only come from God through Jesus. It is he alone that can change our nature from self-centered to Christ centered. Some day we will all be dead and have to face This same God. This time however we will all (you,me,Mark) stand before this God guilty of breaking the laws of God. God does not grade on a "curve" it won't matter that some have sinned more or less than ourselves. We can't "work" off our sentence before God. Our sins require justice and therefore punishment (in Hell) Only Jesus lived a sinless life and died to pay for the sins of those who turn from themselves and put their trust in Him. It is in Jesus alone that can change Mark. It is this Christ that can "save" Mark ( and you and Me) It is in death that the greatness of God is clearly seen, his redemption from this "fallen" world, His love for us in the Attonement that Jesus made so that we would not have to suffer the consequences of our rebellion to God. This Attonement will not apply to everyone though, only those that Jesus calls to be his own,none of us deserve it. I would encourage you to seek this redemption for yourself while there is still time to do so. I'm praying for Mark that Jesus will change him. I hope that time will make Casey's death less painful. I know that when my first wife died it took time to start really enjoying life again. I would also encourage you to take your mind off Mark as best as possible, let the courts, for better or worse deal with that and let whatever that turns out be...enough.
My heart goes out to you and your family.

Paul

I am in no way saying that what happened is right, but I would like to know how one person who would ride with someone who is that intoxicated and not ask to belet out of the auto unless they were in the same shape as the driver. I know two wrongs don't make it right but like I said it is hard to beleive he might have some responsabllity with what happened. It's still a tragic accident which didn't need to happen!

Justice for Casey, Justice for his family: Don't forget that the family that is left behind . He should be punished for a longer term than will be given, He has not learned from his actions and his criminal history proves that.

Reply to Dani : Unknown
You have the odasity to point out that this was an accident (NOT), and that if one of us were in Marks shoes we would and I quote, "want people to know how "sorry" we are and want people to know how this was an "accident" Unquote." Do you have any idea how ridiculous you sound?! Perhaps that is what "YOU" want everyone to think. As for Mark, HE KNOWS THIS WAS NO ACCIDENT AND THAT HIS ACTIONS WERE A CHOICE. HE SELFISHLY INGNORED PROVISIONS PUT INTO PLACE BY THE LAW. That is no accident, and by the way...
The word "SORRY" has not been heard by anyone who would count or just plain need to hear it. "YOU" my dear, DO NOT COUNT under the circumstances. If you want to pitty your poor little boyfriend, You had better be able to teach your boyfriend some compassion, honesty and downright decency, along with teaching him to mind the law or have any respect for it or it's consequences. Sorry to say, it looks like you have your work cut out for you. Good luck on that. Until then, your silly immature comments for your poor boyfriend fall upon deaf ears.

July 08, 2009

There may be some truth that there was equal culpability in the decision by both of them to get into the car after they were intoxicated. Mark's decision to leave his friend injured/dying in the vehicle in order to save himself is where his actions become inexcusable and unforgivable. And comments made on previous articles suggesting that Casey and Mark were "best friends" are both naive and ignorant. A true friend would have owned up to his actions regardless of the consequences. I am not intimately involved in this case but have followed it since the morning I happened upon the crash on my way to work. So I am not specifically aware of Casey's injuries, but by fleeing the accident and losing precious time to cover himself that could have been used to tend to Casey. If the maximum penalty Mark could face is 68 months, I imagine that only deepens the pain and anger Casey's family is enduring.

My thoughts go out to your family.

WE APPLAUD YOU !!!!

There is a little thing called "Tough Love." As a parent most would do whatever it took to protect the life of your child as well as the lives of others. Mark was enabled for too long. Marks mother should have turned Mark in knowing he was violating probation, NOT HAND HIM THE CAR KEYS !! She should have warned Mark that his dangerous and unlawful behavior would not be tolerated and that she would turn him in herself if he didn't choose to mind the rules(or Law for that matter.) She is just as guilty in my book. It was no secret that his behavior was "out of control" and extremely dangerous, as he had prior run-ins with the Law that put him on Probation in the first place. Perhaps if she had made different parental decisions herself, Mark could have been taken off the street "before" killing Casey in another one of his delinquent escapades!! Let's face it, Marks behavioral pattern continued also in part as he obviously feared no immediate consequences!!!
This is not only a very painful realization, but shamefully disturbing!!!

Note that I am not insinuating that Marks mother killed Casey, however consider the anger, hurt and life-long frustration that we will endure in knowing that more was not done to stop him or at least make it more difficult for him to proceed with his actions. I absolutely know that his family was aware of the disaster waiting to happen. I had actually even heard it from one of your own "immediate" family members mouth regarding Marks scary "out of control" behavior, and this was quite a while ago which is proof this had been going on for a long time. This is why I feel so angry and feel I have the right to comment. Shame on all who enabled him, and I hope that "finally" Mark will suffer some much needed consequences. Sadly, he will not serve the "life sentence" that he deliberately inflicted upon our family, nor has he the decency to admit his quilt!! As he continues with his selfish lies, please know this makes him even more dangerous!!

For those again who may pitty, some have challanged me to "put myself in Mark's shoes." Although that would be quite impossible for me to do,(As I couldn't behave this way in the first place), I have went out on a limb to try. All I could come up with is that I would have such immense shame toward myself and would most certainly be "SCARED STRAIGHT!!" Not to mention that I myself would have "done the right thing" upon realizing that I had actually killed someone. I would have been "frantically" calling 911 and been absolutely unconsolable at the time.
I would have also been forever indebted to the Gehrke family in the way that, I would regardless of the consequences "provided them with my utmost honestly" in regards to that morning. I would not let my so-called friend die in vein simply to avoid my punishment, but rather need to become an "advocate" in order to help with my own deserving quilt and prove to the Gehrke family that I am forever remorseful and plan to try and save others in honor of Casey. I would have thought immediately and "ONLY" about the life-long pain Casey's family will suffer at my hands.
In close,
You all wanted to challange me on this, and all I can say is that I gave you my "honest" answer!!
I can also tell you that the majority of others with any morales or values would say the same!!! So there you have it as requested by the ignorant and immature!!
Pretty ridiculous request to ask now, don't you think?! Hope you are not only satified with my answer, but that you have also been educated in humanity!!!
Don't ask me again to put myself in this idiots shoes!!

Why is anyone feeling sorry for mark. It's time for him to grow up. He took a life. Getting behind the wheel of a car is not a right it is a privilige. He gave that long before this happened. As for casey getting into the car. Nobody knows why he did but it truely don't matter now. If he had been drinking maybe he didn't make the best choice, but Mark should have stayed sober he was court ordered to not DRINK. So right there this so called accident needs to be laid at his feet. Driving drunk is no different then taking a gun out and just shooting it anywhere and hoping you don't hit someone. The sad fact is though if you do that the penalty is way stiffer if you kill someone. A car driven by a drunk driver should be know different. If you know you are going to be driving you shouln't be drinking especially when you have shown that you can't just have a couple you have to get so drunk that you can't even remember killing your best friend. And no I can't put myself in the Gehrke families shoes cause no matter how much people say they understand how they feel there is no way anyone could unless you lost your child for no other reason then someone being irresponsible. I have 3 children and I hope I never have to feel the pain this family is feeling. One of my children know both of these boys and they do not in any way feel sorry for Mark. They feel he should get the book thrown at him and maybe just maybe that would wake him up cause apparently nothing else has.
My heart goes out to Casey's family. Hopefully some day Mark will admit to what he did and take the resposibilty for it fully.

Alcohol and bad choices are on "ALL" parties involved. This could have easily been Casey Driving instead or his girlfriend or her friend, or one of their other friends. I think everyone knows that. I'm not condoning any of this or the selfish act of law avoidance. However, all of them made bad choices, the ones that didn't ride along with them and the ones who let him drive just the same. All of the friends that partied together just prior to the accident all made bad choices. They were just as much a part of partying with the rest of the croud. I sincerely, pray for peace for the Gehrke family and all of Casey's Friends too! May God Bless and Help all of you during this most difficult time!

..both young men made mistakes, both young men obviously knew they were making mistakes....but still made their choices! Life is about Choices and if you think that I dont understand you're wrong.......my son was allowed to drink at a cabin with adults present (actually drinking with the kids) The adults made the choice to let the minors drink and dive and my son made the choice to do it. With a .287 blood alcohol level....you think he knew what he was doing? Yes he did, he made the choice to drink, he made the choice to dive, BAD CHOICES - right! Should the parents have made sure they were safe? YES! Did they? NO!!! BAD CHOICES! Do I miss my son and will I for the rest of my life? Of course! But God gives me peace in knowing my Joey was ready to meet his maker! You that have not made bad choices or any mistakes in their lives should go ahead and throw the first stone. I choose to understand people make mistakes, obviously it was a bad accident and one family lost their precious child, but another family is dealing with the fact that their son is being blamed for both young men's choices. And Mark has to live for the rest of his life knowing that his choices caused a terrible accident which leaves him without his friend and a lot of people confused on what the consequences should be.......

Dina- Well said. Mistakes are just that. Everyone makes them.

Driving drunk is "not" a mistake, it is a "CHOICE !!" Please don't confuse the two !!! To do so is quite ridiculous. People are quite aware of when they are going to choose to drink, so therefore they should be responsible enough to plan for a ride. If you cannot do that, then you should not drink !! It's that simple !! The consequences as we all know, are not worth it. Anyone who has lost a family member to drunk driving, rightfully knows this is not a mere "mistake." GIVE ME A BREAK !!
And by the way...
EVERYONE DOES MAKE MISTAKES, THAT DOES NOT MEAN THEY INTENTIONALLY CHOOSE TO DRINK AND DRIVE AND ENDANDER THE LIVES OF OTHERS !! To say everyone does this is absurd !!

Im so embarassed to say that I ever dated Mark a few years back, because Im just too disappointed I didnt turn him in myself for the crap we did. Casey was a great person and never would have deserved to be left there. Mark has been a menace for YEARS and just has too many idiots who follow him around to ENABLE his stupid actions. All Marks friends out there should really sit back and think what Mark has done for you, because when I did, I couldnt come up with anything positive!!

Gehrke family member... you right! drinking and driving is not a mistake it IS a choice and they BOTH MADE THE CHOICE TO DRINK AND DRIVE/RIDE. Either of them could have called for a ride but instead made the CHOICE to drink and drive.

SAD BUT TRUE!