How this headline may connect to industries in Illinois. Technical scores are below — click any ? for what a metric means.
DULUTH — Maxton Gudowski was the kind of person who always put his family and friends first, a judge was told Monday.The 25-year-old enjoyed a simple life with those closest to him — visiting his grandparents, going to the movies and eating out at his favorite restaurants.He loved spending time outdoors at Brighton Beach, the North Shore and the Boundary Waters.ADVERTISEMENT Nearly two years after Gudowski’s murder, family members said they are still struggling to pick up the pieces and make sense of his violent death at the hands of a man who called himself a friend.“Our lives are forever changed,” mother Lisa Gudowski and brother Spencer Gudowski wrote in a letter to the court.“It's hard to wrap our heads around how someone could do this to our Maxton.” Tyler Walter Edwards, 27, was apologetic but maintained he is “not a monster” as he was sentenced to 17 years in prison for Gudowski’s death.Edwards pleaded guilty last month to unintentional second-degree murder, admitting he killed the victim amid a heated argument.Authorities said Gudowski’s body was found with more than 30 stab wounds inside his Lakeside apartment, which was set on fire afterward.“I understand how people see me now, and that’s fine,” Edwards said.“But that night I was under the influence of alcohol, marijuana and mushrooms.That’s not an excuse either, but I don’t remember that night.” Gudowski's burned remains were discovered in his residence, 601 N.47th Ave.E., in the early morning hours of July 25, 2024.Investigators concluded Pine-Sol had been poured on Gudowski's head and neck area, while another accelerant doused an electric blanket that covered most of his body.ADVERTISEMENT Duluth police found that Edwards and Gudowski had visited a credit union together July 22, and video showed Edwards purchasing mini liquor bottles on the evening of July 24, about seven hours before the fire.Several bottles of the flammable liquor were later found near the victim.When Edwards was located by officers in Canal Park later that day, he provided a false name that matched a note found at the crime scene.And forensic testing confirmed the presence of his DNA and fingerprints on the victim and Pine-Sol bottle.Gudowski’s family asked the court to impose a strong sentence, expressing fear that Edwards could get out and kill again.The victim’s father, Derick Gudowski, called the crime “evil, brutal and senseless.” Lisa and Spencer Gudowski noted in their statement that Edwards was given a break in a Hennepin County sexual assault case just four months before the killing.Rather than prison time, he was granted probation — which he quickly violated.“We wouldn't be sitting here today if the system did the right thing in the first place,” the pair wrote in a letter read aloud by a relative.“Maxton's senseless murder is the repercussion of not implementing a proper sentence.” St.Louis County prosecutor Nate Stumme read a number of other victim-impact statements.Derick Gudowski wrote that he has “struggled beyond imagination” and hopes he can someday look through photos, videos and old letters and Father’s Day cards “without feeling this deep pain and sorrow.” ADVERTISEMENT Amber Vittone said others may be able to forgive Edwards for her nephew’s death, but she won’t.Edwards has crushed us beyond words,” she wrote.“(We) have been in a state of unbearable grief.This is a wound that will never heal.” Defense attorney Aaron Haddorff said his client has never had the same level of support as Gudowski.He grew up bouncing between foster homes in Illinois and Missouri, and has struggled with addiction.“Ultimately, the Department of Corrections sentence he is about to serve will be the longest form of stability he’s ever had in his life,” Haddorff said.Edwards told the court he has tried to kill himself several times since his arrest.He said he would accept even a life sentence “because I am terribly sorry for what I have done and I wake up every day wondering what happened.” “I understand they are in pain,” he said of Gudowski’s family.“But I’m also in pain.I wake up without a friend and without a life now in a cage.” Judge Jill Eichenwald approved the plea agreement, which had stipulated the 17-year sentence.With credit for time served, it will keep Edwards in prison for about 10 additional years before he becomes eligible for supervised release.ADVERTISEMENT The judge called it a “heartbreaking situation” and a “tragedy.” She said the case underscores the fact that drug use cannot be written off as a “victimless crime.” “People do things under the influence that there’s no reason to believe they would do if they were of their right mind and thinking,” Eichenwald said.“It’s not an excuse under our law, but it can be an explanation.” St.Louis County Attorney Kim Maki said she hopes the sentence “provides a measure of justice for our community, and healing for Mr.Gudowski’s family and friends.” Family members vowed to keep his memory alive.“Maxton, we fight because of you,” Lisa and Spencer Gudowski wrote.“We speak because you no longer can.We show up in court and face the impossible because your life mattered.”