Dunlap, Butler families speak out after January verdict

After more than a year of heartache, the families of David Dunlap and Whitney Butler say justice was served Tuesday.

The Dunlaps and Butlers squeezed their hands together as the guilty verdicts against Macyo January were read.

Maryln Dunlap feels a sense of relief.

“He took the one thing our kids can never have back, that’s their lives,” Dunlap said holding back tears.”

Her son’s killer will now spend decades in prison. The victims — her son, David, and daughter-in-law, Whitney, and a grandchild on the way.

“It was hard to look at him every day and see him living and our kids are gone,” Dunlap said. “The family will never be able to hold our granddaughter and our children will never be able to see their daughter. That’s the hardest part.”

Marie Butler has no doubt January murdered her beloved Whitney and David. On the steps of the courthouse, Butler said it’s now time to remember the Fort Carson soldier and his pregnant wife.

“These people will not be forgotten,” Butler said. “Some of the pain will ease. We can’t let this be an example of evil or negativity for everyone else. We will find the strength to honor their memories.”

Moving forward, Maryln Dunlap wants to see the harshest of penalties handed down to January.

“I hope he gets the maximum and then he could think about this,” Dunlap said. “What he did, it sounds vengeful, but it’s not. Personally, I don’t think he learned from this.”

The teenager’s sentencing is scheduled for October 22.

The death penalty is not an option this case because January was a juvenile at the time of the murder.

He faces up to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 40 years.

No word on whether January’s defense team plans to appeal the verdict.