NEWAYGO COUNTY, Mich. — The father of Braxton Dykstra, Domynic Dykstra, who was shot and killed in his grandparents home, is speaking out after Domynic's father-in-law took a plea deal on Monday.
"They ruined my life. They ruined my daughter's life, my other kids' life. You know, they don't have that brother to play with anymore," said Domynic Dykstra, Braxton Dykstra's father.
After months of turning down plea deals and waving hearings, on Monday Karl Robart entered a no contest plea. Robart is the grandfather of five-year-old Braxton Dykstra.
"I was shocked to get a phone call from the prosecuting attorney today. She told me that it's looking like he's going to take the plea, and you know, that they went over a couple other guideline things, and that they had to drop the original plea deal," said Dykstra.
The incident happened on April 1 when Braxton was visiting his grandparents' Newaygo County home.
"The grandparents left a loaded shotgun in the, in the bedroom, and they sent three children in the room to go play, and six-year-old child grabbed the gun and shot my son in the head," said Dykstra.
Under Robart's plea agreement, he is expected to serve between 19 and 38 months in prison.
However, Dykstra said that's not enough.
"My son's life was only worth 19 months. That's how it makes me feel. It's that's not even two years, you know. It's not fair. You know, my son's life was worth way more than that, and they are the reason why he's gone today," said Dykstra.
The grandparents are charged with violating the firearm safe storage law with a minor present.
Court documents show the couple had several firearms in the home that were not safely stored. Dykstra said as he continues to mourn the loss of his son, he's preparing his family for what's to come.
"As of right now, we don't know what's going to happen with the grandma. We're assuming she's going to plead not guilty, and then that's going to put my daughter up on stand, and she's got to relive that day three days in a row," said Dykstra.
A judge will give Karl Robart his sentence on October 7. The grandmother, Theresa Robart, will be back in court on August 19.