Man convicted of killing B.C. mom sentenced to 12 years in prison

After years of denials, on the day a convicted killer was being sentenced, he apologized to the family of his victim.

After years of denials, and recent delays, the man who killed a young B.C. mom finally made an admission in court Thursday, before he was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Seventy-year-old Gary Losch apologized in an Abbotsford courtroom Thursday to the family and friends of Chelsey Gauthier.

“I would just like to say that Chelsey and I were friends,” a tearful Losch said. “It was a horrible accident that happened. I’m very sorry for what happened.”

But what Losch didn’t say, according to Gauthier’s family, was why he killed her.

“I don’t personally believe it was an accident,” said Amanda Gauthier, Chelsey’s cousin.

Losch was originally charged with second-degree murder, but found guilty in July of manslaughter and indignity to human remains in Gauthier’s stabbing death.

She was killed in 2017. Her body was found in a remote, forested area near Mission.

Gauthier was with Losch after she agreed to help him tend to his outdoor marijuana grow operation.

It took years before charges were laid. Relatives said they’re grateful to police for pursuing justice.

“There is an officer that did not let up with this case,” said Amanda Gauthier. “I want to personally thank him.”

Gauthier described her cousin as “very caring.”

“She was very kind. She wouldn’t hurt anything,” she said.

Even before a sentence was handed down, Gauthier’s family expected it would bring a sense of closure.

“This is going to be a great Christmas, knowing he’s not walking around, he can’t hurt my kids. He can’t hurt my family and knowing that, I can be a little more stress free,” Gauthier said.

In sentencing, the judge noted that Losch had shown remorse and apologized.

But the judge also said that Losch had lived a life of crime and had done little to rehabilitate himself.

Losch was sentenced to 12 years jail, but given credit for the equivalent of almost 3.5 years for time already served.

Kasadee York, one of Chelsey Gauthier’s friends, said she didn’t feel the sentence reflected the gravity of the loss.

“No sentence for this offence would truly be enough. I do not think the offender is sorry, nor do I think he will be ‘rehabilitated,’ as he has made no efforts so far to do so,” York said in a statement to CTV News.

York thanked the prosecution team for their work on the case.

“I’m hoping now we can finally remember Chelsey for Chelsey, the bright, talented, amazing young mother (among many other things) she was,” said York.

In a statement late Thursday, Sgt. Freda Fong of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team called the investigation “complex” and the crime scene “complicated.”

“A case like this takes a lot of persistence not only to gather, but also to present the evidence, in an effort to demonstrate the truth of what happened to the victim,” Fong said. “We are so proud of the investigators for their dedication and the great lengths they went to see this case through.”

Fong said officers hope for peace and closure for Chelsey’s family and friends.