OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Joshua Aide was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison without a chance at parole plus another 80 years for shooting his ex-girlfriend, fatally shooting her father, and shooting another man last year.
Aide shot Rebecca Borkowski, killed her father, James Gruettner, and shot John Miller at a home on Minnesota Street on Aug. 4, 2020. The shootings came after he became upset that someone was going to be working on his vehicle, which he and Borkowski co-owned, according to the criminal complaint. A jury convicted Aide of first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of attempted homicide.
In addition to the life sentence with no parole, Winnebago County Judge Scott Woldt added 40 years each, consecutively, for the two who were injured.
Before the sentence was issued, several people spoke, including Julie Gruettner — James’ wife and Rebecca’s mother.
“The defendant sentenced me and my family for the rest of my life and their life. So I am asking you to sentence him for the rest of his life without parole. I don’t get parole with my husband. They don’t get parole with their father. He doesn’t get to go to heaven and come back down in five or ten years. So I don’t feel he gets the right to get out at all,” she said.
Borkowski also spoke, apologizing to her family for bringing Aide, who served in the Marines, into their lives.
“I feel the defendant is a disgrace to the men and women of the armed forces. He is a coward. What he did goes beyond shame, beyond reproach, beyond indignity. The Bible says to forgive them that trespass against us. I am not ready to forgive, and I will never forget,” she said.
Aide gave a short statement but didn’t apologize.
“On the night of Oct. 4, 2020, I did not travel to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with the intentions to harm anyone, your honor,” Aide said.
During sentencing, Judge Woldt criticized Aide for his actions, said he was convinced if Aide got out that he would seek retribution, and said his military service does little to counter to the gravity of the offense. And he jumped on Aide’s comment about hope for the future.
“You say you have no hope? Here’s the hope for you: That your soul doesn’t burn in hell for eternity. That’s the hope for you. So, if you want to go prison and fight the system for the rest of your life, after that, you’ll be at the right hand of the devil,” Woldt said.
