A Council Bluffs man was sentenced this morning to a mandatory life term in prison after being convicted last month for the brutal killing of his wife.
Forty-one-year-old Stan Tribble was found guilty in the murder of his wife, Tracy Gostomski-Tribble. She was strangled in May of 2006 and her body was found later in the Missouri River.
Several of the victim’s family members were in the courtroom during the sentencing and were allowed to address Tribble. Tracy’s aunt, Betty Thomas, was the first to take the stand.
“Now we are left to wonder if Tracy knew she was being killed and to forever wonder how much she suffered,” she said. “For us to imagine the answers to these questions sickens and saddens us beyond imagination for the rest of our lives, no matter how long or short that may be.”
Tracy’s mother, Mary Gostomski, made a brief statement saying to Tribble he was “the worst mistake Tracy ever made.”
The victim’s father, Tom Gostomski, was vehement in his words before the court.
“Stan, being in prison for the rest of your life is too good for you. I just hope the other prisoners make your life as miserable as you had made Tracy’s life while she was married to you before you murdered her,” he said. “My only hope is that some prisoner does the same to you as you did to Tracy. That’s the only hope I have.”
Judge Able interrupted Gostomski at that point, reminding him this was a chance to describe the impact of Tracy’s death on the family, not to seek further retribution.
Tribble’s attorney plans to appeal the sentence.