Family pleads for deadly Grayson County DWI case to not go to trial

A Grayson County father heads to trial next week for murder after driving drunk and killing his young son last year. But family members still grieving the loss are pleading with the district attorney not to take the case to trial.

Kristoffer Craft, 36, ran a stop sign at an intersection in April 2017 and then crashed into a Grayson County home. The wreck killed his son Kolton, 7, who was not wearing a seatbelt. Craft faces six felony charges for the death of his only son, ranging from DWI with a child to murder.

"Having to relive this a year later and watch pictures and videos of things we don't ever want to see is painful! And for what?  To what gain,” said Pam Thompson, Kristoffer’s mother and Kolton’s grandmother. "He was an awesome kid. We miss him like you can't even imagine."

Published reports from witnesses say Craft tried to leave the scene and wouldn't let anyone near the truck to help. The child died from the impact.

"Most of the information is saying he was waiting for medical personnel to get there. None of these people saying he was trying to keep people from the car were in a position of authority,” said Pete Schulte, Craft’s attorney.

Craft already had one DWI on his record before the deadly crash. But Schulte says charging him with murder for this case, is a stretch.

"This is a non-intentional crime, he didn't intend to kill his son. If he did, then it would be murder. This isn't murder and for the DA's office to do this, it's just unfortunate and wrong,” Schulte said.

The family sent a letter to the Grayson County district attorney pleading with him to accept a plea bargain and a 20-year-sentence to spare them the grief of a trial.

"Kolton's Mom, who's my daughter in law, my husband and I all signed this letter, saying make it stop because Nicole and I have lost. I lost a grandson and a son, she lost a husband and a son in this deal. Isn't that enough? And he's willing to plead guilty? I mean what else do you need from us,” Thompson said.

Grayson County DA Brett Smith told FOX4 it's unethical to comment on pending cases and the trial is set for Monday.