MADRAS — Devyne Briggs cared about his 401k. He cared about being a good dad. He drove a pickup truck with a picture of Taylor Swift taped to the passenger seat.

Briggs was just a quirky kid who wanted a family, said his mother Jackie Rubio, and that future was taken away from him on Dec. 16, 2022, when Briggs’ ex-wife, Paige Vannorsdall, shot and killed him in her Madras home.

Now, Vannorsdall will serve more than 17 years in prison for manslaughter. The sentencing, which took place Monday on Vannorsdall’s originally scheduled trial date, brings to a close what Judge Alison Emerson, who normally hears cases in Deschutes County, called a “very emotional case.”

The Rubio family has been vocal about their dissatisfaction with how this case was handled by Jefferson County District Attorney Steve Leriche, who Rubio said was staunchly against taking any plea deal before he surprised the family with agreeing to move forward with the lesser charge of manslaughter.

But Leriche said the compromise of 214 months was “fair,” and the surest way of ensuring Vannorsdall faced consequences for her actions. Although the state State “did not believe the defendant’s claim” that she acted under extreme emotional distress, Leriche said, he had to consider the possibility of a full acquittal if the case went to trial.

“Family and friends valuate cases with their emotions, with their sadness, with their anger and with their spirit,” Leriche said in his statement to Emerson. “I’m sure the defense has some amount of regret. I’m sure the state has some amount of regret. But that’s the nature of a settlement. If it’s a good settlement, everyone feels like they wish they went to trial with that case.”

Where is Grayson?As the Rubio family gave their victim impact statements that would help inform the judge’s sentencing, they tried to convey that Vannorsdall’s actions didn’t just cost them a beloved family member, it also cost them their relationship with his son.

Court documents show Vannorsdall and Briggs were in a prolonged custody battle over their son, Grayson, at the time of the shooting. In fact, Briggs was on his way to pick Grayson up for a court-approved visitation when the slaying took place.

Throughout this case, Vannorsdall’s defense has argued she acted under extreme emotional distress under the belief Briggs was sexually abusing their son. Those allegations, however, were unsubstantiated and court records show law enforcement and social workers dismissed Vannorsdall’s accusations after they became suspicious she was coaching her son to bring forward false allegations of abuse.

“When he started to try and legally get more time (with Grayson) is when s- — hit the fan,” Rubio said. “I really feel like the true victim here is Grayson. I feel like there’s nobody in his corner and he has no advocate.”

Rubio has not seen Grayson for over a year, and Vannorsdall’s family is refusing to give the Rubio family any contact with the now 7-year-old boy. During his victim impact statement, Briggs’ brother Daniel Rubio said he begged Vannorsdall’s mother — who has legal custody over the boy — to let Grayson speak with his infant cousin, if no one else. The response, he said, was no.

It’s unclear what will happen to Grayson now that his mother has been is sentenced to more than 17 years in prison. Emerson had this to say about the matter:

“I hope as we move forward you are able to work with Ms. Vannorsdall to figure out a way to see your grandchild. I think that is the biggest injustice of this. The boy has lost his father; he has lost his mother; he shouldn’t have to lose the rest of his family.”