Statement from the Toone family following sentencing:
Nearly two years have passed since we invited Mr. Nocks, a pesticide professional, to eliminate a health hazard at our home. Mr. Nocks' tragic ignorance, laziness and carelessness for the lives of others created a far more deadly hazard.
Mr. Nocks was a licensed professional, and as such, he had a responsibility to ensure the safety of his clients. In that responsibility, he failed. Bugman and Ray Wilson were also licensed professionals and owed a responsibility to ensure the safety of both their customers and the public. Bugman and Ray Wilson also failed in their responsibilities.
We understand that the choices made were not malicious, but we also recognize that as a direct result of the failure to follow directions, failure to think, and most importantly, failure to act in a safe and conscientious manner, we have lost two of the most precious gifts that we have ever been given - and that our lives have been changed forever. We hope that our experience will serve as a reminder not only to Mr. Nocks, but also to others, that the decisions we make in our day-to-day lives can and do affect the safety, health, welfare and lives of others. While we hold no ill will toward Mr. Nocks, we recognize the need for our society to issue a measure of justice, both criminal and civil, in an attempt to correct the terrible mistakes that were made nearly two years ago.
We wish the agreed-upon sentence could have been imposed today. However, we agree with Judge Benson's evaluation of Mr. Nocks' heartfelt expressions of remorse and sorrow. We accept his apologies, wish the best for him, and forgive him for his actions. We also fully agree with Judge Benson's statements concerning Mr. Wilson's lack of similar remorse and sorrow. While it is unfortunate that the law was unable to more fully help Mr. Wilson to understand the full extent that his actions helped to cause this tragedy, we feel that today's sentences show an appropriate amount of both justice and mercy.
We do know we will be able to see and be with Rebecca and Rachel again. This knowledge and assurance is the single thing that has allowed us to heal as much as we have thus far. We are glad that the criminal proceedings have come to a close. We can now continue our lives, looking forward to the time when we can be with our complete family again - only then will we truly be made whole.
Nathan and Brenda Toone and Family
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