Intoxicated Driver Who Killed Sheriff Lamb’s Son, Fiancée, Grandchild Indicted
By Staff Reporter |
The driver behind the killing of Senate candidate and Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb’s son and family, Brian Alexander Torres-Perez, 22, was indicted by the Maricopa County Attorney last week.
According to Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, Torres-Perez faces three counts of manslaughter, a class two felony.
Torres-Perez was driving intoxicated in December 2022 when he crashed into Cooper Lamb, his fiancée Caroline Brooke Patten, and their 11-month-old daughter, Lainey. The baby and Cooper perished at the crash, and Caroline later died at the hospital.
Patten was driving their vehicle when the crash occurred.
Torres-Perez drove 70 MPH, about 25 miles over the speed limit, with a blood alcohol content level of .03 and the presence of THC in his blood.
The case was referred to Mitchell’s office in February 2023.
“This defendant’s reckless disregard for life wiped out an entire family,” said Mitchell. “After an extensive review of the evidence, it’s time for Torres-Perez to be held responsible for his actions.”
Torres-Perez is in custody with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office on a $150,000 bond.
Sheriff Mark Lamb posted the following after the passing of his son and granddaughter:
“We are truly humbled and touched by the outpouring of love from our Family and Friends/Community. We cannot thank you enough. Our hearts are broken but we are comforted in your love and the love of God and Jesus Christ.
We are praying for our precious Caroline who is still in critical condition.
We would also like to express our gratitude for those citizens and first responders who rendered aid to our son Cooper and our granddaughter. God Bless you all!”
A GoFundMe for their funeral expenses far exceeded the asking amount of a $35,000 goal: over $70,500.
The following was posted by a family friend to honor the memories of Cooper, his fiancée Caroline, and infant daughter Lainey:
“If you know about Sheriff Mark Lamb, then you may know about his son Cooper.
Everyone has their struggles in life… and Cooper was not exempt from this.
He was on a downward path with no hope in sight.
Then something wonderful happened:
He was arrested and went to jail.
He paid his price…
And from this point forward, his life had only gone upwards…
He now had a fiance who loved him.
A new daughter who admired him with her big doe eyes.
So he stepped up to become what they needed…
A husband to be. A father. A man.
He was committed to becoming better…
And building a life for his family was his new mission.
Mark and Janel are so proud of their son…
He figured it out and he was on his way.
But on Friday, December 16th — just yesterday — there was a knock at the door.
It was past 8 PM and his son and family weren’t home… This was not normal…
Then came another knock at the door.
Mark swung it open, with a smile on his face. Ready to hold his granddaughter again.
But instead of seeing them…
He saw the Maricopa County Sheriff and Mark’s Chief Deputies at the door.
His son Cooper, Caroline, and their daughter Lainey were in a car accident…
Cooper and little doe-eyed Lainey… didn’t make it.
Cooper’s wife Caroline is in critical condition.
The world stopped spinning.
The police say the other driver was impaired…
But does it really matter at this point?
They are gone.
How do you comfort someone who lost their child?
How do you comfort someone who lost their grandchild?
The truth is… you can’t… Only God can deliver his peace to his children.
So please, tell your family you love them.
It may be the last time.
God Bless.”
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