March 8, 1987 – March 12, 2022
Gina Bright was one of my dearest friends and an honored member of my merry band of gorgons.
When I was putting the Gorgon Network together, she was instrumental in helping me fine tune my work and being one of the best cheerleaders you could ever hope to have.
She encouraged me and supported the Gorgon Network by brainstorming ideas with me, proof reading and even raising money for the Gorgon Network. Her support was always consistent and infallible.
Not only did she help me with all the things behind the scenes, but she would also help me with events. Gina’s calm and welcoming demeanor was a perfect fit for the Gorgon Network event booth with people often sharing their stories with her.
On March 12th, 2022, Gina’s life was stolen from her just mere hours after we had been celebrating her 35th birthday when she was killed by a reckless driver who was going 100 mph+ in a 35mph zone.
Two months after her funeral there had still been no charges filed against the driver who killed her despite him not having insurance, a registered car or driver’s license. At the scene of her death Jonathan McDougald admitted to road raging because he was upset about something.
We started a Change.org petition to raise attention about her case as NO CHARGES had been brought against her killer. Three months after her death Jonathan McDougald was formally charged with misdemeanor motor vehicle homicide. The county said it would not be a felony charge because he was sober at the time of the incident.
We continued to push to get the charges changed to a felony, even citing the laws that clearly stated that it could be charged as a felony, but to no avail.
You can see the Change.org petition with updates including news articles here:
https://www.change.org/p/justice-for-regina-bright
In January of 2023 Jonathan McDougald was sentenced to 90 days in jail, a $1000.00 fine, no license for a year, and one year of probation.
True to his character, Jonathan violated his probation by assaulting his girlfriend and then violating the protection order that had been placed on him hours after he had been released from jail for the domestic violence charge. He was arrested TWICE in 24 hours for his anger issues and rage, even having to be tased by the police when he was apprehended. He had gotten a slap on the wrist for killing Gina, so why would he do anything to curb his temper or rage.
When he was brought back to court for his probation violation in January 2024 he was ordered to serve a year in jail, with time served.
Gina was such a good person and so loved that her funeral took over two hours due to the large number of people that had good things to say and memories to share.
She was a genuine and beautiful soul that would go out of her way to help anyone that needed it.
No one ever went hungry at her table, and no one was turned away if they needed a place to lay their head.
This world is truly a darker place without her presence in it and the repercussions of her loss are seen and felt every single day.
Gina is survived by two amazing children that she would be so very proud of, many family members, and countless friends.
I, and we, will forever mourn her absence and will never be at peace with the lack of justice she received upon her senseless and preventable death.
Gorgon Network 