Bend, Ore. – A Montana man was sentenced to 24 years in prison on Monday after admitting to causing a tragic crash that claimed the lives of a Troutdale family of four in October 2023. Jesse Carl Ross, 44, took a mixture of cocaine, caffeine pills, and a sedative before driving for an extended period, ultimately crashing head-on into an SUV on Highway 97 north of Redmond. The crash killed Gary Rutledge, 57, his wife Michelle, 53, and their two children, Kate, 15, and Ryan, 17, who were headed to Central Oregon to view the annular eclipse.
In a tearful and emotional statement during his sentencing, Ross expressed deep regret for the devastating consequences of his reckless decisions. “I would gladly trade places with them in an instant,” Ross said, speaking directly to the Rutledge family’s loved ones. “This is like a nightmare. It’s all I think about every day—how this could have gone differently. No matter what the circumstances were, I have nothing but guilt, pain, and remorse. I take full responsibility.”
The sentencing followed nearly an hour of emotional victim impact statements from family, friends, and classmates of the Rutledge family. Three classmates of Kate and Ryan Rutledge shared their grief via video, describing the two teens as exceptional students and loving friends. One friend recalled how Kate had helped her through difficult times, including struggles with self-harm and suicidal thoughts, calling her a “beautiful soul” who “made me believe in life, humans, and myself.”
Family members also spoke of the deep pain caused by the tragedy. Judy Lepin, Michelle Rutledge’s aunt, recounted the emotional toll of dealing with the aftermath, including the process of disposing of the Rutledge family’s belongings and handling insurance claims. “We have become Mr. Ross’s living victims,” she said, highlighting the lengthy and painful legal process following the initial not guilty plea.
The crash occurred when the Rutledge family was traveling to Central Oregon for the eclipse, a trip that would tragically be their last. The family’s surviving relatives expressed the lasting impact of the loss, underscoring the bright futures that had been cut short.
Ross’s attorney, Bryan Donahue, explained that his client had been under significant personal and professional pressure at the time of the crash, though he emphasized that such pressures did not justify Ross’s actions. Ross himself admitted to making a series of bad decisions leading up to the crash, expressing remorse and offering his heartfelt apology to the Rutledge family.
“I never meant— I never even thought something like this would happen,” Ross said, his voice shaking. “I’d have never taken the trip. I made several bad decisions that day and in the days leading up to it that I’ll regret for the rest of my life. And now four people are gone, because of those bad decisions.”
As Ross spoke, many in the courtroom wiped away tears, visibly moved by his heartfelt words. The emotional hearing concluded with a message from the Rutledge family’s attorney, Ashby, who thanked Ross for his apology but reminded the court that justice is not only about punishment but about honoring the lives of those lost.
“You honor the lives of the people you’ve taken in how you live your life moving forward,” Ashby said, offering a note of hope for the future.
In the end, the sentencing highlighted not only the irreversible consequences of one man’s reckless choices but also the deep and lasting pain felt by the surviving members of the Rutledge family and their community.
