Carbon County man sentenced to prison for murder of his mother

PRICE — Matthew Juliano said he takes "full and complete accountability" for taking his mother's life prior to being sentenced to prison on Tuesday.

"That violates every natural law, I think, in the universe," he said. "My mom does not deserve this. She was 100% innocent."

He shot and killed his mom, 64-year-old Karon Louise Barker Griffin, in their home in Helper on Jan. 1, 2024. He told his family that, in addition to taking legal accountability, he would also be accountable for any requests they make of him.

Seventh District Judge Jeremiah Humes said the case highlights "tragic consequences" from not addressing mental health concerns and substance abuse disorder. He said he has never been involved with a homicide that was not related to substance abuse.

"Those consequences build over time when decisions are made in an impaired state," he said.

He read a statement from Juliano, who said it was "the saddest and most devastating thing I could have ever imagined."

Humes sentenced Juliano to 15 years to life in prison for murder, a first-degree felony, and two terms of one year for possession or use of a controlled substance and assault by a prisoner, class A misdemeanors. He ordered the sentences to run consecutively.

'The strongest love of all'

Griffin's son, Jeremy Andreini, was among those who spoke at the sentencing about how important she was in their lives. He said she was his "confidant" and his "rock," and he thinks about her daily. He said the last two years since her death have been the hardest years of his life.

He said he would honor her by being who she inspired him to be and passing on love and memories of her to his children. Andreini said he knows their connection will continue forever, and a mother's love is "the strongest love of all."

"It was a mother's love that ultimately got her killed. A mother knows her child better than anyone, and she knew the monster he had become. She paid the ultimate sacrifice to put him where he needed to be and to keep the rest of us she loved safe. That was her one choice before he brutally murdered her," Andreini said.

He said Juliano made the choice to not get a job, use drugs, buy a gun, and shoot his mother twice, killing his own daughter's favorite person and placing that daughter's "Frozen" pillow over her grandmother's head. He said it was not an accident but a "selfish choice" and that experts had determined his brother was "clear-minded."

"What kind of a person executes their own mother, kills the person that brought them into this world, the person that loved them unconditionally," he said.

Andreini said Juliano deserves the "worst possible sentence," and that life without parole would keep their family safe. He told his brother that he no longer has a family "on the outside."

'Caring mother until the very end'

Deputy Carbon County attorney Dominique Kiahtipes said Griffin was there for Juliano throughout his life. On the day she died, she said she understood her home was not safe for her granddaughter and invited the girl's mother to come pick her up — but she chose to stay. The prosecutor called her a "caring mother until the very end."

"Protecting her granddaughter by ensuring her safety but still trying to be a mother to Matthew by staying and sticking with him even when there's evidence to suggest that Karen was afraid of Matthew and what he was capable of," she said.

She said her death created a wound that will never fully heal for Griffin's family members.

Juliano's attorney, Robert Oliver, said the goal in the case for the defense was not to make excuses but explanations. He said people can't understand the effects of mental illness and drugs unless they have been there. He said that, from the beginning, Juliano did not want to take the case to trial.

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