Ann Grosmaire’s parents seek accountability

Deacon Andy and Kate Grosmaire wanted to tell Conor McBride what their daughter’s death did to their family and have a say in how he would be held accountable.

“Restorative justice gave us a voice and say so in what we wanted to see”

Ann was killed in 2010

Ann Grosmaire, 19, was shot by her boyfriend Conor McBride in Tallahassee, Florida, on Palm Sunday 2010.

Restorative justice process

Restorative justice brings people harmed by crime into a supported dialogue with the person responsible to seek acknowledgment of damage and ways to address it.

Meeting facilitator Sujatha Baliga

Meeting facilitator Sujatha Baliga opened possibilities for the Grosmaires to have their wishes considered in the legal process.

Conor’s account and family healing

Deacon Andy realized he could not have prevented Ann’s death after hearing Conor explain what happened.

“Asking him what happened, I realized there’s nothing I could have done”

Conor’s rehabilitation plan

The Grosmaires requested 10 to 15 years of imprisonment followed by probation with anger management classes and teen dating violence education.

Conor’s progress

Conor completed anger management classes and now helps other incarcerated men with them, recording a public service announcement about teen dating violence.

Family forgiveness

Kate and Andy continue to speak with Conor but insist he is not their lifelong project, finding peace through forgiveness despite ongoing grief.

“But you remember that you forgave, and then you can find that within that place of mourning in that moment that can be intense, you can realize that there's still peace there”