SENTENCING UPDATE: Family of Greenfield addressed Collins before she was sentenced to life
At Victoria Collins’ sentencing hearing June 16, family members of Gary Greenfield didn’t shy away from telling Collins how her selfish actions destroyed their lives.
Collins murdered Greenfield, her longtime lover and tenant, and his body was found on July 29, 2015, highly decomposed, wrapped in a tarp and underneath a piece of privacy fencing.
Toxic levels of sleeping pills were found in his system, but medical examiners were never able to determine his exact cause of death due to the length of time the body had been exposed to the elements.
A jury convicted Collins for first-degree murder on June 16 after a two-week trial, prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Hope Pattey and Kristie Ducharme. A mandatory life sentence was imposed the same day by Judge Harb.
Greenfield’s sister, Elaine Cemonuk, talked about how her brother was vibrant and had the energy of 10 4-year-olds.
She spoke about Greenfield’s generosity and how he would give family his last dollar or the coat off his back.
His involvement in their family was crucial, and Cemonuk said, his death left a gaping hole in their lives, especially the life of his mother.
“You took away the joy of her last holidays,” Cemonuk said, turning to face Collins.
Cemonuk said Collins left her mark on four special dates in their family: Collins’ arrest warrant was issued on Cemonuk’s son’s birthday, Cemonuk was subpoenaed on her daughter’s birthday, Greenfield was laid to rest on Cemonuk’s birthday, and Collins called The Ledger on Greenfield’s birthday.
“She (Greenfield’s mother) did not celebrate any of these and cried harder on these days,” Cemonuk said.
Greenfield’s mother had severe health problems, and the stress of wondering how and why her son died caused her to deteriorate quicker.
“She died (15 months later) with a broken heart,” she said.
“You are the most evil, cold and despicable person I have ever met,” Cemonuk said to Collins. “I’m glad you’ll be taken out of society so you will never be a threat to anyone ever again.”
In addition to addressing Collins, Greenfield’s family also spoke about his vigor for life and the way he’d leave a smile on the face of each person he interacted with.
“It was a rare occasion to find him sad,” Cemonuk said, addressing Judge Harb. “But if you were sad, he’d pick up your spirits in minutes.”
Greenfield’s niece, Michelle Kalen, told Harb that her uncle would do everything in his power to help his loved ones take a bad situation and make it better.
“He could be falling apart, but if you called him, he’d do whatever it took to make that happen,” Kalen said. “It didn’t matter how long or what it took. He’d make it happen.”
Greenfield was the firstborn in their family, and Cemonuk said, he always watched out for them.
She offered her sympathies to Collins’ family but said she still has not accepted her brother’s death and may never be able to do so.