Pribbernow gets life for Coleman killing

By SUSAN FIELD

Struggling to hold back tears, Jessica Pribbernow looked at her son in a Midland County Courtroom Thursday, first telling him that she loves and misses him, then telling him she doesn’t know who he is anymore.

Her words to adoptive son Steven Pribbernow came before Chief Circuit Judge Jonathan E. Lauderbach sentenced the 15-year-old to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the stabbing death of his 17-year-old adoptive brother, Justin Pribbernow Saylor, Aug. 4.

Jessica also read a letter to her son from her young daughter, who asked “how could you?” and “do you hate your whole family?”

Standing stoically with defense attorney Scott Isles, Pribbernow hung his head and wept when his mother read the letter.

Pribbernow, who was charged as an adult with first-degree murder and three counts of assault with intent to murder, pleaded guilty in February to second-degree murder and the three assault charges.

In addition to stabbing Justin, Pribbernow also stabbed and seriously injured his stepfather, Joshua Saylor; and Joshua and Jessica Saylor’s sons Kody, 13, and Kevin, 15, at their home at 5180 McNally Road.

Life with the possibility of parole means Pribbernow could go before the Michigan Parole Board in 15 years, but the judge made sure the teen knows there is no guarantee that he will ever be released.

During the sentencing, with a packed courtroom, Pribbernow was also made to watch a DVD slide show shown at Justin’s funeral, as Saylor, had requested.

Midland County Prosector Michael Carpenter, who asked the judge to play the slideshow to give Pribbernow the chance to “see the life he snuffed out,” played a recorded message from Saylor, who said he is no longer part of the family.

In the recording, Saylor said it is still impossible to imagine what happened, even though he witnessed the events firsthand.

“When a life is taken, then justice is unattainable,” Saylor said, adding that he doesn’t hate his stepson but hates what he has done.”

Saylor also described Jessica as having been “through the system” and being adopted herself, and opening her heart and home to her adoptive children and being self-sacrificing.

He also spoke of Justin.

“Justin died way before his time, but for all of us who believe, we know he’s in a better place,” Saylor said. “We all love you.

“Living without you and Justin has been unimaginable.”

When speaking to the judge before he imposed the sentence, Isles said nothing can justify what Pribbernow did and that charging him as an adult was the proper course of action.

Isles described Pribbernow’s life of abuse at the hands of an alcoholic father, then living with his grandmother until she became unable to care for him.

Pribbernow was sent to a foster home in Genesee County, where he repeatedly ran away, then was sent to live with Jessica, who later adopted the boy, Isles said.

Charging Pribbernow as an adult will give the Michigan Department of Corrections time to determine if the murder and assaults were a “blip” or if Pribbernow will pose a threat to society in the future.

“I don’t think my client fully understands the ramifications,” Isles said, adding that family dynamics and discipline in the Saylor household had changed prior to the attacks.

For his part, Pribbernow told the judge he was “just going through stuff” and that he regretted his actions.

Carpenter, however, described a teen with a complete lack of remorse who complained of not being able to join the Air Force when he was questioned by police after the attacks.

“Steven cared about Steven,” he said.

Carpenter also pointed out that the family lived a nightmare and that Pribbernow superficially wounded himself to deflect suspicion, telling family members he was not the stabber.

Carpenter told the judge that Jessica suffered the horror of watching her husband and sons bleeding, not knowing at the time who attacked them.

Lauderbach, who told Pribbernow that there was ample evidence for him to stand trial on first-degree murder, told the teen that the family agreeing to a lesser plea proved their love.

Lauderbach, who said Pribbernow threw away a family who loved him, told the teen that his actions were not split second decisions, pointing out that he put a knife under his bed the night before the attacks and set his alarm in order to carry them out.

Pribbernow was returned to the Midland County Jail to await transport the the MDOC Reception and Guidance Center in Jackson.