Virginia Lawyers Weekly VA Lawyers Weekly
CHESTER (AP) A former Chester youth pastor was sentenced to 58 years in prison for killing his wife, stepdaughter and the stepdaughter’s boyfriend last Thanksgiving.
Christopher R. Gattis, 59, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder Aug. 15, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.
The murders reportedly stemmed from a family conflict. Investigators learned Gattis had issues with 58-year-old Jeanett L. Gattis’ children. He didn’t want 30-year-old Candice L. Kunze or her boyfriend, 36-year-old Andrew Buthorn, staying for long.
Following multiple arguments, Gattis’ wife asked his adult nephew to hide a gun, saying she was afraid Gattis would use it.
He walked into their kitchen Thanksgiving night with a loaded pistol while his family played a board game and began firing.
Gattis initially told police he was threatened, saying “they all came after me.”
All three died of gunshot wounds to the back.
