Westfield Mother Outraged Over Son's Killer's Possible Sentence

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By Matthew Campbell

Story Published: Mar 11, 2010 at 12:30 AM EDT

Story Updated: Mar 11, 2010 at 12:37 AM EDT

22 year old Wilfredo Pabon pleaded guilty to a stabbing that killed 24 year old Westfield man, Christopher Washburn. But Pabon's not facing a murder charge.

Christopher Washburn's mother, Cindy Dowers has spent the last two years since since her son's death on a crusade for comfort.The only thing that'll bring her that solace can be found in justice.

"I think he should get the electric chair," Dowers says.

But Pabon will not get the death penalty, since the state does not allow it. However, it angers Dowers because the Commonwealth isn't even offering it's maximum sentence of life in prison, because Pabon, is only facing manslaughter.

"Everytime we go to court, it's like a slap in the face," Dowers says.

This comes even after the 22 year old admits he fatally stabbed Christopher Washburn back in July 2008. There was no motive behind it.

"Supposedly, this person did not know Christopher at all or the other gentleman that also got attacked," Dowers says.

Chris' mom says her son was riding in a car that parked in front of 55 Wilmont Street in Springfield. Washburn was in the back of the car while his two friends were in the front. One friend got out and that's when Pabon "came out of nowhere" and slashed him.

Dowers says the attack was unprovoked. Chris got out of the car to check on his friend and that's when Pabon stabbed him.

"He didn't do anything. He just opened the car door, closed the car door and turned around," Dowers says.

After the July stabbing, Washburn was in a fight for his life.

"We thought he was coming home. There was a little bit of hope there," Dowers admits.

That hope was dashed after doctors discovered the knife that Pabon dug into Chris, cut through his aorta. He died three weeks later.

"There's nothing I can do to bring him back, so we do want justice taken," Dowers says.

Pabon will be sentenced on his manslaughter charge on March 22nd. Like every other one of his court appearances, Washburn's family will be in attendance.

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are you kidding me said on Wednesday, May 19 at 10:06 AM

You are crying because your brother is in jail!! My friend we will never see again. I don't care what the story was between everyone that night..I was not bad enough for my friend to be 10 feet under. so take your sob story and keep it to your self.. because you just making things worse not better

amanda said on Friday, May 14 at 2:02 AM

I LOVE YOU MACHO

unknown said on Friday, Apr 2 at 2:46 PM

WILFREDO NEVER MEANT TO KILL ANYONE HE WASNT POPPIN PILLS OR NOTHING LIKE THAT HE WAS HANGING OUT AND GETTING DRUNK WITH HIS FRIENDS WEN DEY CAME ALONG AND STARTED ARGUING WITH HIS FRIENDS N HIM..WILFREDO ISNT A BAD PERSON HES REALLY A GOOD GUY WEN FOUND OUT DAT CHRIS HAD DIED HE WAS UPSET HE HAD CRIED A LOT JUST TO KNOW DAT HE KILLED DAT YOUNG GUY.. HE WAS DRUNK AND IT ALL WENT SO FAST FOR HIM... HE'S BEEN HAVING THOSE TEAR DROPS ON HIS FACE EVEN B4 THE INCIDENT SO NONE OF THOSE TEARS ARE FOR CHRIS.

pece said on Thursday, Apr 1 at 3:24 PM

PEOPLE IF YOU LOVE GOD LOVE AVERYONE WE ALL BROTHER,,, PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES.. GOD BLESS

please said on Thursday, Apr 1 at 3:21 PM

God its the one ho cold just him.... killing its bad and whant to kill someone because he kill your family God its love and he forgive but if you dont, God will take care of you too not only wilfredi... God Bless the victims fam and the fam of wilfredi

ricardo said on Tuesday, Mar 30 at 1:24 PM

listen... no one knows the story between my brother and rafeal or chris... it was the people that was there that knew exactly what happend... dont judge my brother... judge your self and think if these was your brother in jail... how the hell will you feel???!!!

stopthevolence said on Sunday, Mar 14 at 1:04 PM

this scumbag was out of jail for only 2 weeks when he killed Christopher,& will probably only spend 6 years in jail.That's why we call it "criminal justice" instead of "victim justice". This needs to change!!!

justice for chris said on Friday, Mar 12 at 5:51 PM

ricardo apparently you dont no ur brother to well!!! and i no ur sympathy goes out to chris's family but chris truely didnt do anything wrong maybe if ur brother and all the people their in front of the house werent poppin e pills ur brother would have made better judgement!!!!

my best friend chris said on Friday, Mar 12 at 5:47 PM

this is in no way justice being served, if we were in texas wilfredo would be given the electric chair no question, he took chris's life for no reason what for a tear drop on ur face wow how cool he must feel!!! i hope he knows the true karma and justice will be sereved to him no matter if he does only get manslaughter when he pass away!!!! may you rot in hell wilfredo and even thou chris is no longer here you will never measure up to how much of a man chris was! stop trying to be ganster and cool!!!

Toni Scibelli said on Friday, Mar 12 at 1:51 PM

so basically the court system is giving people the wrong impression, how can justice be served? if the people willing to give it, arnt and they have all the evidence they need, since when can you stab someone in the aorta and its not considered attempted murder, and the fact that he did die from it should make the case even more stronger.. and all there giving him is manslaughter? and he admitted it....thats absolutley disgusting to me, and all those people who work for the court system should be ASHAMED, my prayers go out to the family, i hope you get the JUSTICE you DESERVE

Toni Scibelli said on Friday, Mar 12 at 1:40 PM

whats wrong with this picture? and massachusettes, sine when can you stab someone (that ends up dyin)g and its not considered murder? im disgusted at the lack of justice this poor kid chris deserves..rip chris

dd said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 9:59 PM

this is an OUTRAGE!!! THAT IS LIKE SAYING IT'S OKAY TO TAKE SOMEONES LIFE AWAY AND YOU WILL BE FREE TO ROAM AROUND THE STREETS IN SIX YEARS. CRIME IS RISING BECAUSE THAT IS ONLY A SLAP ON THE WRIST!

missing him said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 8:47 PM

It really makes you think life is so unfair Chris was such an amazing friend brother and son he would litterly give you the shirt off his back justice needs to be served!!!

friend to chris said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 6:48 PM

wilfrado should get life for what he did he killed a wonderful man and i am so proud i knew chris and the only sorry he gives chris is a tatoo of a tear drop on wilfrados face how nice keep it real hood ur a joke and should pay for takin the life of a better man then u will ever be or dream to be i hope for the rest of wilfrados life he thinks about what he has done and if u dont pay here u will pay in hell!!!!

jcfl said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 5:57 PM

typical ma laws, usless low life gets all the breaks, we need to purge society of this scum. less money spent on prisions. Bullets are a cheap alternative to life sentences with all the conviences of home, are founding fathers are rolling over in their graves!!!!

ricardo said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 3:17 PM

iam wilfredos brother... i know what my brother did was wrong... but also i knew my brother wouldnt do that crime intentionally.. i apologize towards the washburn family and i bless them everyday...

L.W. said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 2:07 AM

Unfortunatly, he could be out in as little as 6 years. I Pray for the best outcome and for your Family.

Tina said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 1:45 AM

Massachusetts liberalism run amuck once again. I'm sure young Mr. Pabon had a rough childhood, a single mother, growing up in the projects, and was doing his best to turn his life around, so of course he deserves a break now after robbing this Mr. Washburn of the rest of his life. Gag me.

JerDaMan said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 1:38 AM

Why wasn't this murder? He stabbed him in the middle of his chest, but he didn't mean to kill him?? Who the heck is the DA??? His brother????

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