By Jody Lawrence-Turner
The Spokesman-Review

Not guilty for the death of Jana Schrock, age 10.

Not guilty for the death of Carinna Schrock, 8.

Not guilty for the death of Jerryl Schrock, 4.

Not guilty for the death of 2-year-old Craig Schrock.

And not guilty for the injuries suffered by the children’s father when Clifford Helm crashed his pickup into theirs on Nov. 1, 2005.

The jury of nine women and three men made their determination March 14 after less than three hours of deliberation at the end of a three-week trial. And when it was over, Helm and his wife left the courtroom with the children’s parents, a Mennonite couple who never wanted the 58-year-old man to be charged with a crime.

Helm wept as Spokane County Superior Court Judge Michael Price read each verdict. Members of the Helm and Schrock families — who sat together on courtroom benches during the trial — hugged.

“I learned from you,” Helm told Jeffrey Schrock.

“Thank you for your strength, your prayers and your love,” Helm told another member of the Schrock family.

Jeffrey Schrock's father Jason led a prayer as members of both families huddled in a circle. He thanked God for being able to “know the truth of the matter that has brought us all together.”

Up until the prayer, Carolyn Schrock, the victims’ mother, remained composed. Afterward, she wept.

The head-on collision on Highway 395 traumatized first responders and shocked the community. Nearly 1,500 people attended the children’s funeral a week later. Jeffrey Schrock was temporarily released from the hospital and attended their memorial with the assistance of medical aides. Carolyn Schrock was visibly pregnant with a girl who is now a toddler and has a younger brother.

After the accident, the close-knit Mennonite fellowship in Chewelah rallied in their grief and extended their concern to Helm.

Jeffrey and Carolyn Schrock said within days of the crash that they had forgiven Helm. He, too, was injured and hospitalized at Sacred Heart Medical Center, and he visited Jeffrey Schrock’s room — on the same floor as his own — to apologize.

Helm said afterward he didn’t remember the crash and told Washington State Patrol investigators he had little information to offer. He obtained an attorney two days after the crash and refused to speak further with investigators. That slowed the investigation, officials said, and it took the WSP nearly a year to criminally charge Helm.

Helm’s defense team argued he fainted right before the crash and therefore shouldn’t be held criminally responsible. His attorneys didn’t publicly reveal that defense until the trial, which began Feb. 25.

The information about Helm’s “syncopal event” didn’t come out sooner because there was a feeling that “the prosecution was rushing to judgment on this,” Helm’s attorney Carl Oreskovich said. “The fact they were looking at this as criminal put us on the defensive, and we had to protect our client.”

Prosecutors said Helm had been distracted by a cell phone call from his wife, in a following car.

After the trial, Oreskovich said he was relieved but not surprised.

“It’s been our position that this is a case where there should never have been criminal charges,” Oreskovich said.

Before leaving the courtroom, Helm asked Schrock if he wanted to walk out together to talk to reporters, but the Schrocks told him they weren’t ready.

Helm, of Deer Park, didn’t take questions, but he said: “I’m really thankful for Jeff and Carolyn in my life. I just want the world to know forgiveness is important.”

WSP investigators were also in the courtroom.

“We don’t always win. That’s the way life is,” said Detective Tracy Hansen. “It was just a tough case for everyone. This is as tough as it gets.”

Deputy Spokane County Prosecutor Clint Francis said he knew from the beginning that the case was going to be difficult.

“But it was a case that had to be tried,” he said. “Not every crash is a crime. We felt there was enough evidence to go forward.”

The jury forewoman, Rebecca Backstrom, said it was a long, emotional trial. When asked if she believed Helm fainted before the crash, she said the prosecution didn’t prove that he hadn’t.

She added: “I hope both families are at peace.”

Spokesman-Review staff writer Tom Clouse contributed to this story, which was published March 15, 2008.

Copyright 2008. Reprinted with permission of The Spokesman-Review. Permission is granted in the interest of public discussion and does not imply endorsement of any product, service or organization otherwise mentioned herein.