A former Georgia Southern student pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter Wednesday after he beat and killed a fellow student outside a bar.
Grant Spencer was sentenced to 20 years in the plea deal, but Michael Gatto’s family told Channel 2 they’re still hurt by the death.
“We raised him for 18 years and loved him and nurtured him and it stopped,” mother Katherine Gatto said. “Someone stole him and we miss him very much. Every minute of every day.”
Michael Gatto was outside a bar August 2014 in Statesboro when he was found unresponsive with head injuries. He was taken to two hospitals before he died.
Spencer worked at the bar as a bouncer and was later arrested.
Since Michael’s death his family has worked to ensure college students are safer at bars.
They successfully lobbied for Michael's Law which requires Georgia bar employees to be at least 21 years old and bans those under 21 from entering a bar. The family is also working to strengthen the law by requiring more training for bar bouncers, owners and staff.
With the sentencing Gatto said she’s not sure what’s next for the family, but she does know Michael won’t be forgotten.
“When people ask me how many children I have I say four,” she told Channel 2. “I have four children and (Michael) will always be talked about and remembered.”
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