The workshop teaches teams how to engage with purpose, high ethics, courage, gratitude, forgiveness, and compassion. Now she devotes her days to spreading a program she thinks could have saved her son, and Adam, from their intertwined fates: it's called social and emotional learning. And the fear that comes from that stops the healing and the mourning process, Lewis said to Jones during her testimony. It has been five years since Jesse, 6, was slaughtered with 25 others including 19 other children in a gunmans rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14, 2012. Plaintiff William Sherlach, left, hugs attorney Josh Koskoff while plaintiff Nicole Hockley hugs attorney Chris Mattei following the jury verdict and reading of monetary damages in the Alex Jones defamation trial at Superior Court in Waterbury, Conn. on Wednesday, October 12, 2022. Lisa Backus is a local, state and national award-winning crime reporter who covers breaking news and criminal justice policy for Hearst Connecticut Media Group. "I can't even describe the last nine and a half years, the living hell that I and others have had to endure because of the recklessness and negligence of Alex Jones," Heslin said. Anna Wintour arrives arm-in-arm with beau Bill Nighy as she confirms their romance at the Up to 180 orgasms a DAY: The cruel reality of living with debilitating 'spontaneous climax disorder' - after 'He's been dead for 130 years and can still satisfy the ladies': Social media goes wild over mystery woman British MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo 'was secretly battling bowel cancer' before he was found dead in a Mystery surrounds Jock Zonfrillo's final Instagram comment posted shortly before his sudden death aged 46: Do not sell or share my personal information. For years, she and her husband have faced harassment from people believing that her child's death was staged but on Tuesday, she had the chance to confront the man who's been at the helm of propagating such falsehoods. Sandy Hook families have separately sued Jones over his financial claims, arguing that the company is trying to protect millions owned by Jones and his family through shell entities. "I know his hate, lies, and conspiracy theories will follow me and my family through the rest of our days. Father of child killed in Sandy Hook says he experienced 'hell' because of Alex Jones' lies, Alex Jones apologizes to Sandy Hook parent: I never intentionally tried to hurt you. Jones was absent from court duringHeslins testimony, but went live on his show andmocked Heslin, calling him slow and on the spectrum. He said the father was being manipulated by some very bad people.. Scarlett Lewis also described threatening emails that seemed to have uncovered deep details of her personal life. These programs work. I wanted to tell you, to your face, because I wanted you to know that I am a mother, first and foremost. The pain doesnt dull, but they persevere. Scarlett Lewis knows exactly what she would do if she could see her forever 6-year-old son, Jesse, again. Parker credited the jury with enduring the trial and using the truth to render a verdict. The awards ranged from $28 million to $120 million. Schools get better.". Six-year-old Jesse Lewis was among those killed. The parents have asked the jury to award $150 million in compensation for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Jones has been found to have defamed the parents of a Sandy Hook student for calling the attack a hoax. Contributed Photo Show More Show . "In the face of unbridled cruelty, harm, & harassment these survivors have been a profile in courage & perseverance.". Carrying his warm clothes, she turned the corner to walk into her kitchen and she saw it. The verdict comes after a nearly four week trial that focused on the pain Jones wrought for families, who had lost loved ones in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that killed 20 first-graders and six educators, by calling the tragedy a "hoax" staged by "crisis actors" who were advocates of gun control. Judges in Texas and Connecticut have already found him liable for defamation for pushing the Sandy Hook hoax claim and issued default judgments against him. His conspiracy theories spread widely, and 10 years later, Lewis is still dealing with the repercussions. Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis Testify Against Alex Jones I guess it gets more distant and its not as raw, but its always an open wound. "Every morning when I get out of bed.". Alex Jones walks into the courtroom in front of Scarlett Lewis and Neil Heslin, the parents of 6-year-old Sand Hook shooting victim Jesse Lewis, at the Travis County Courthouse in Austin, Texas, July 28, 2022. J.T. ", At one point, Lewis asked Jones: "Do you think I'm an actor?". It was initially thought that Lanza started with Ms Rousseau's class because he killed all but one child in the room. Lewis's program, he said, stands out because of Jesse's story, and also for its frank emphasis on love and forgiveness. JT Lewis - Wikipedia Scarlett Lewis says she thinks about her son Jesse's bravery every morning when she gets out of bed. Scarlett Lewis, mother of 6-year-old Sandy Hook shooting victim Jesse Lewis, testifies against Alex Jones Tuesday Aug. 2, 2022, at the Travis County Courthouse in Austin. Her 6-year-old son Jesse was murdered in the Dec. 14, 2012, Sandy Hook school shooting. Non-profit organization founded in the United States, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement | Character.org", "Does the program include character education (CSED? Ten years later, Lewis is still finding rogue figurines. ", "You're still on your show today trying to say that, implying, that I'm an actress, that I'm deep state. She almost never saw them. PARAMUS, NJ - On Sunday, December 8, 2019, U.S. And I don't understand," Lewis told jones on Tuesday. This is a carousel. On the 10-year anniversary of the day her son was taken from her, Lewis says she plans to do what her family does every year: Gather at Jesse's grave, light candles, read bible verses and inspirational quotes and say a prayer. "They are beautiful people, they are good friends under the most horrendous situation you could imagine. "That perked them up a bit, and one had a twinkle in his eye," she adds. I know you know that And yet you're going to leave this courthouse and say it again on your show. Oh my God, she whispered. And Ive experienced so much.. I am a mother, first and foremost, and I know you're a father. With 3-year-old Jesse snuggled safely in the crook of her arm, she remembers thinking, I would never forgive someone who hurt my family. Lewis finally got an answer to the question that haunted her years ago, when everyone she loved was safe and she couldnt imagine forgiving someone who hurt her kids. It was long before Dec. 14, 2012, the day a 20-year-old gunman killed her 6-year-old son, Jesse, and 25 others at Sandy Hook Elementary in one of the worst mass murders in U.S history. I just dont have it in me.. Go to People.com/peopletv, or download the app on your favorite streaming device. ", Nobody should ever have to endure the kind of harassment and persecution that Alex Jones caused, especially the families of those killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School," he said. And I dont understand.. Lewis, Jesse M.Jesse McCord Lewis was an amazing child, full of light and love that was unmistakable in his presence. . He livestreamed the reading of the verdict on his Infowars show, beaming as the figure reached the 10-figure range. / CBS/AP. JT Lewis, the 19-year-old brother of a Sandy Hook shooting victim is Earlier that day, Jones was on his broadcast program telling his audience that Heslin is "slow" and being manipulated by bad people. ", Before the hearing on Tuesday, Jones broadcasted on his show that Lewis' husband Neil Heslin is "slow" and being manipulated. I'm a celebrity get me in there! "After almost a decade of threats and messages from conspiracy theorists lead by Jones, this is a moment years in the making," Lafferty wrote. WATERBURY A six-member jury awarded eight Sandy Hook families and a federal agent defamed by Alex Jones $965 million in damages and emotional distress in a momentous verdict on Wednesday that came after close to three full days of deliberation. Last September, Guerra admonished Jones in her default judgement over his failure to turn over documents requested by the Sandy Hook families. "Today is very important to me and it's been a long time coming to face Alex Jones for what he said and did to me. Lewis says she has never really allowed herself to consider what her son would be like if he had been given the opportunity to grow into the 16-year-old boy he should be today. Plaintiffs Robbie Parker, left, and Nicole Hockley hug following the reading of the jury awards for damages in the Alex Jones defamation trial at Superior Court in Waterbury, Conn. on Wednesday, October 12, 2022. Adam reloaded and shot him in the head,' said his mother Scarlett Lewis, who learned details of the events inside the classroom from investigators. The pioneering heart operation that only takes an hour and doesn't leave a scar is performed on first Briton. "But today they learned that they will be held accountable.". "People say, 'You should be the ones with a bullet hole in your head.'". "It's a long hard road once you get a judgment to collect when it's someone like Alex Jones," Taubes said after the verdict was announced. The awkward response from a Q&A audience after they are asked if they will swear allegiance to King Charles Charlotte is daddy's double! The story of Jesse's bravery comes from the young survivors, who told investigators what they witnessed on December 14. "I'd peel it off his sweaty head as he went to school," Scarlett adds. Heslin told jurors that the pain of losing his son was compounded by Jones assertion that he never existed. They described how Jesse was known for telling classmates to "run!" The number of SEL programs in schools is steadily growing because principals and teachers demand them, he says: "The evidence shows how effective it is. The Army set came with a plastic camouflage helmet Jesse wore all day and even to bed. IE 11 is not supported. Left: Neil Heslin, father of 6-year-old Sandy Hook shooting victim Jesse Lewis, testifies in court for the trial against Alex Jones, in Austin, U.S. Aug 2, 2022. Attorneys for the families painstakingly made the case that Jones would often highlight the shooting while mocking the parents to spike ratings and get more viewers to purchase Infowars items such as books and vitamin supplements, making money off of their pain. Jesse with his beloved camouflage helmet. IE 11 is not supported. This program, aligned with Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, Common Core, and American School Counselor Association standards and fully incorporating state-of-the-art Character Social Emotional Development Model Standards from Character.org, also includes neuroscience and positive psychology to teach mindfulness, character, and emotional intelligence. Heslin, who also testified on Tuesday, said that Jones made their lives a "living hell" filled with abuse and trauma from his followers.