Published on Tuesday, January 16, 2007
in the Tampa Bay 10 News

Slain Trooper's brother speaks out about his death

Placid, Florida - It was a somber salute to Sgt. Nicholas Sottile. Sgt Sottile's younger brother Jimmy can't believe he's gone after being a trooper for 24-years,“When he worked he worked, even at 24 years on it was like he just started yesterday.” And that makes it even more difficult dealing with today, “It's sick that he had to pass away like this, because if anything this is a disgrace to him, for something like this to happen to him.” Words can't express how he feels about the person who murdered the 48-year-old, “When he killed my brother his life ended no matter what. But he made the choice to kill my brother, my brother didn't make the choice to die. My heart says I'd like to see him pay the same way, of what he did to my brother. I wish I could make him hurt the way he made our family's hurt.”

Jimmy's going to miss joking around with his big brother, “We always had a good time, if you were around him he made you have a good time. This seems like some movie or something. I told my wife when I get home I'm gonna change the channel cause this can't be real.”

Sgt. Sottiles family grieves, but it's especially hard on his son who is also a trooper. Jimmy has some advice for all those listening, “Tell everybody that you love them before you leave the house.”