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The widows of the brothers who play brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau had an emotional interview discussing the tragic deaths of their husbands almost a year after they were killed by an alleged drunk driver.
Meredith Gaudreau, the widow of the NHL Johnny star, and Madeline Gaudreau, Matthew’s widow, sat down with ABC News, where they revealed her final messages to her loved ones at the funeral last September.
“Our children did not deserve this,” Meredith said as the tears fell down his face. “John and Matty did not even deserve that, especially the way it happened. There is no healing when you didn’t say goodbye. He kept me awake at night.”
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Meredith Gaudreau with her children, Noa and Johnny, arrives at the parish of St. Mary Magdalen for her husband’s funeral, Columbus Blue Jackets hockey player, Johnny Gaudreau, and her brother, Matthew Gaudreau. The brothers died after being hit by a drunk driver while riding bicycles on August 29. (Adam Cairns/USA Today Network through Imagn Images)
Meredith was pregnant with her third child when Johnny and Matthew were killed. He promised to take care of his children, his daughter Noa, and his children Johnny and Carter, of which they were born in April 2025, during her last farewell to her husband at her funeral.
She also thanks her for such a big life, “he told ABC News.
New Jersey judge dismisses the defense containment of the Gaudreau brothers contributed to their deaths
Meredith announced during his praise at the funeral that he was waiting for his third son, who was born on April 1.
Madeline was also pregnant with her and Matthew’s first son, who was called Tripp Matthew. He was born in December 2024, three months after the tragic death.
“I can’t even remember. Maybe I had four months pregnant at that time,” said Madeline. “Tripp was kicking a lot, so I took Matt’s hand in my belly for Tripp. I didn’t want to say goodbye to any of them because I know I will see them again.”
Meredith recalled the last time he also saw Johnny.
Meredith Gaudreau walks to the stadium before the NHL 2025 Stadium series at the Ohio stadium between the Jackets Azul Columbus and the Detroit Red Wings on March 1, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio. (Jeff Dean/Getty Images)
“He kissed us all, right on the way to enter his parents’ house, and that was the last time I saw him,” he said.
Johnny was 31 years old and Matthew was 28 when they died while riding bicycles on a road in Salem County, New Jersey. It was the day before his sister, Katie, was supposed to marry August 29, 2024.
Sean Higgins is the man accused in the death of the brothers. He was arrested and accused of two positions of aggravated homicide, two charges of vehicular homicide, manipulation of evidence and abandoning the scene of an accident.
Police said Higgins had a blood alcohol level of .087, above the legal limit of New Jersey to drive, and failed a bribery test in the field. Police also said that Higgins was committed aggressively, which included accelerating to drive around multiple vehicles, when he hit the brothers.
Meredith Gaudreau holds her daughter, Noa, during a souvenir ceremony for her husband, former Columbus Blue Jackets Johnny Gaudreau and her brother Matthew, before the start of the game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Florida Panthers in Nationwide Arena on October 15, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed when an alleged drunk driver on August 29, 2024. (Kirk Irwin/Nhli through Getty Images)
In April, a judge dismissed the affirmation of the defense that the consumption of brothers’ drinks contributed to their deaths. The judge of the Superior Court Michael Silvanio said the ruling after two hours of arguments were heard, deciding that all the charges against Higgins would be confirmed.
Higgins, 44, rejected the 35 -year prison prosecutor’s offer in January. He could face up to 70 years in prison if he declares himself guilty of all charges.
