A man accused of murdering two men in east Columbus last year was sentenced to life in prison Thursday.
Connor Jeffries, 21, faced two counts of aggravated murder, two counts of murder and tampering with evidence for the deaths of 20-year-old Gary Ashton Francis and 21-year-old James Miller in April 2016.
"Your Honor, unfortunately, there is nothing I can say or do to change what I've done," Jeffries said. "But I'm truly sorry from the bottom of my heart for what I did. It's something I'll regret for the rest of my life."
Jeffries showed no emotion as he heard from the families of his victims. A victim's advocate read a letter from Francis's mother Wendy Martin.
"I will always wonder what his future would have been. Would he have finished college? Gotten married? Had kids? I will never know.”
Miller's twin sister said his loss changed who she is.
"As a twin, you have a partner, a best friend throughout life," Jayanna Miller said. "And I don't have my partner anymore. I'm just me. So this whole time I'm just trying to find out who I am, as a single person, and not as a unit."
"We just will forever be in pain," Miller's grandmother Gail McQueen said. "[Jeffries'] parents will be able to go to the prison and see him. We have to go up on Main Street to the cemetery and talk to my grandson. We can't see him, we can't hug him."
James’ mother, Tisha Miller, said her son was much more than his mistakes.
"My son was hard working. He would go to work at seven in the morning and not get off until midnight to take care of his two kids," Tisha said. "Whatever indiscretion he made out there, he paid for with his life. And that's the only justice I wanted for Connor."
Jeffries pleaded guilty to two murders charges and one tampering with evidence charge in court Thursday. He received two life sentences and will be eligible for parole after 33 years.
"Tears are how my heart speaks when my lips simply cannot find the words to describe my pain," Tisha said.
According to authorities, Jeffries and his girlfriend, 19-year-old Mia V. Shamis, drove to the scene where the victims were sitting in a vehicle.
Shamis told prosecutors Jeffries had previously sold Miller and Francis drugs and the pair had paid with counterfeit cash.
When they met again on April 5, surveillance shows Jeffries getting out of the vehicle and approaching the victims before opening firing and fleeing the scene with Shamis.
Shamis waived her right to a grand jury indictment and entered a guilty plea of involuntary manslaughter.
As a part of her plea, Shamis agreed to testify against Jeffries. Defense and prosecution agreed on a recommended seven-year prison sentence for Shamis.
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