The man convicted of shooting and killing two women found in an SUV at a Dayton gas station last year has learned how long he will spend behind bars.
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Deante Holden, 34, was sentenced Wednesday to 45 years to life in prison.
As previously reportedHolden was found guilty of multiple counts of murder, aggravated assault and tampering with evidence in July. The charges related to the murders of 38-year-old Felicia Brown and 44-year-old Michaela Daniels.
Brown and Daniels were found dead in an SUV at the Shell gas station on W. Third Street in February 2023.
Mike Daniels, Michaela’s father, addressed the court with a victim impact statement at the sentencing. He had said his last words to his daughter before she set off with her friend.
“Have fun, be careful and I love you,” he said.
Little did Daniels know that those would be the last words he would ever say to his daughter.
Michaela’s daughter, Anjanae Milliner, also spoke during the sentencing. She said her mother’s death left a big hole in her heart and her life.
“I will never get that chance to hug her and smell her and tell her I love her and laugh with her,” she said.
A large number of family members from both victims’ families filled the courtroom to support each other. A small group of people came to support Holden, who briefly apologized to the families, but told the judge he was forced into his actions.
“I was put in a position where I had to,” Holden said.
Judge Mary Wiseman immediately struck out against Holden’s insistence that his actions were in self-defense, something the jury rejected. As reported on News center 7 at 06:00Wiseman called his claims “false, absurd” and insulting to the tragedy.
“They were shot from behind,” Wiseman said. “It is hard to imagine a more cowardly act.”
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