A Vineland man was sentenced today in connection to the vehicular homicide of 14-year-old Aisling Cooke in 2014, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner announced.
Nicholas Garreffi, 40, was sentenced on second-degree Vehicular Homicide to seven years in New Jersey State Prison. He must serve 85% of the sentence before he is eligible for parole as part of the No Early Release Act.
Garreffi also was sentenced to one year in New Jersey State Prison for each of these charges: fourth degree Assault by Auto of Madeline Williscroft, fourth degree Assault by Auto of G.S., fourth degree Assault by Auto of K.B. All sentences will be served consecutive to each other for an aggregate of 10 years, with seven under the No Early Release Act. Garreffi also received a 20-year driver’s license suspension to be imposed upon release from New Jersey State Prison.
According to police, officers responded on August 30, 2014, at 8:42 a.m., to Route 40 milepost 43.7 for a motor vehicle accident involving three vehicles.
The investigation determined that a 2008 Chevy Silverado driven by Garreffi crossed the center line into oncoming traffic, first striking a 2007 Mitsubishi box truck driven by Darrel Jacobs, 48, of Vineland, then striking a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta containing five occupants. The driver of the Mitsubishi truck was uninjured.
The driver of the Volkswagen, Madelyn Williscroft, 18, of Linwood, and two juvenile passengers sustained mild to moderate injuries, and were transported by ambulance to the Atlantic City Medical Center—City Division, for treatment. The rear-seat driver’s side passenger, Aisling Cooke, was airlifted by Southstar helicopter to ACMC-City Division with critical injuries. She was pronounced dead at the hospital on September 3rd.
Police arrested 40-year-old Garreffi, 40, of Vineland, on July 20, 2015, and the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Collision Unit and charged with vehicular homicide—a 2nd degree crime—in connection with the August 30, 2014 death of Aisling Cooke, 14, of Linwood. On August 7, 2017, an Atlantic County jury found Garreffi guilty on all counts.
Assistant Prosecutor Rick McKelvey represented the State in the matter.
Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page.
People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.