“You disfigured me;” Father, who used his nearly 2-year-old daughter “as a shield” when he fired at a deputy after shooting his 5-month pregnant wife in the head, was sentenced
Indiana – In a harrowing case in Indiana that exposed the depths of domestic abuse and a violent breakdown, a 33-year-old former Ohio police officer, identified as G. Guilfoyle, was sentenced to a lengthy prison sentence for attempting to murder his pregnant 25-year-old wife, identified as H. Lynch, and a sheriff’s deputy—while using his nearly 2-year-old daughter as a human shield during a shootout. His wife survived but was left with devastating injuries, and their unborn child did not survive the attack.
Just days before Christmas in 2022, Guilfoyle committed a string of violent acts that would forever change the lives of those around him. Authorities said Guilfoyle shot Lynch in the head outside their home. Lynch, who was five months pregnant at the time, collapsed in the snow and was left for dead as temperatures plunged into single digits. Guilfoyle then fled the scene on foot, carrying their nearly 2-year-old daughter, dressed in nothing more than a onesie.
It was a snowplow driver who spotted the man and toddler walking down the road and contacted police. Sheriff’s Deputy A. Bowers responded, but what began as a welfare check quickly turned into a life-threatening situation. Dashcam footage shown during the trial captured the moment Guilfoyle pulled a gun and opened fire, shooting Bowers in the chest. Fortunately, Bowers was wearing a bullet-resistant vest and survived. In the chaos that followed, Bowers returned fire, critically injuring Guilfoyle and causing him to drop the toddler. The little girl was unharmed. As Bowers scooped her up and reassured she was ok, backup officers rushed to find Lynch. They discovered her nearly unconscious in the snow, barely clinging to life. She was airlifted to a hospital, where she spent weeks recovering.
Guilfoyle was convicted of eight felony charges, including the attempted murders of Lynch and Sheriff’s Deputy Bowers. At the sentencing hearing, Lynch faced her husband in court and delivered a chilling impact statement.“This is my new normal. This happened to me because of you. You disfigured me.” Lynch detailed the permanent damage she suffered: a shunt placed in her skull, the loss of a toe from frostbite, and the need to relearn basic motor skills. She also lost the baby she had been carrying, a child she had been excited to welcome. Turning to Guilfoyle in court, she declared:“I say my daughter because she is not yours. You are scum.” She described their past as rooted in abuse, saying she had been treated as a puppet, brainwashed into submission.
Guilfoyle, now paralyzed from the neck down from the gunfire, appeared in court in a wheelchair. His defense team argued he was suffering from PTSD and hallucinations stemming from his brief law enforcement career. A therapist testified that he had been diagnosed with multiple mental health conditions. Prosecutors acknowledged three out of four experts suggested he was insane, but the jury found him “guilty but mentally ill”, a verdict that mandates both incarceration and psychiatric treatment.
During the trial, prosecutors brought in fellow officers from his former department who challenged the validity of his PTSD claims. They testified that Guilfoyle had exaggerated his involvement in traumatic incidents. Guilfoyle told the court he was sorry and claimed he never intended to harm anyone.“I’m so sorry this happened. I love you with all my heart.”
But that apology rang hollow for the prosecution and the judge. Judge B. Hill handed down a 100-year sentence: 38 years for two attempted murder charges, 20 years for firearm enhancements, and the rest for neglect and aggravated battery. Guilfoyle’s legal team has indicated they plan to appeal the sentence, arguing that his current medical condition makes him no longer a threat. But for now, he remains incarcerated—a once-trusted figure who shattered lives with a single night of violence.
