RIVERVIEW, Fla. — A man found guilty of brutally murdering the mother of his kids in February of 2015 has been sentenced to life in prison.
- Man guilty of killing estranged wife gets life sentence
- Keith Dukes slashed throat of Michelle Dukes, shot her three times
- Couple's three kids witnessed murder
Detectives say Keith Dukes slashed the throat of his estranged wife, Michelle Dukes, in front of their three kids and chased her down as she sought shelter at a neighbor's.
Dukes said he attacked her because she was taking his daughters from him. After the initial attack, detectives said Michelle ran for her life to a neighbor's house where Dukes shot her three times.
All three daughters witnessed the heinous crime. His youngest daughter was seven at the time of the murder. She is now the star volleyball player for her middle school team, a fact she pointed out to her father in court Wednesday morning.
"I could have you and mommy sitting on the sidelines cheering me on. But what you did is take something away that can never be replaced," Monica Dukes said.
His two other daughters also spoke during the victim impact statement portion of the sentencing hearing.
"You destroyed your relationship with your daughters and destroyed any hope of happiness for yourself. Now you will spend your days staring at the bleak concrete walls in an uncomfortable suit," Mya Dukes said.
Mikaylah Dukes added, "Watching these tears fall down his face in court, it just makes me think that you're not sorry about what you did, you're sorry you got caught."
Michelle's sister, Taylor Baggett, also spoke in court today and had some strong words.
"You are nothing. You are a coward, you are selfish, you're a joke. You will get yours. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but you will get yours," Baggett said.
"I miss Michelle tremendously and my heart is forever broken," Michelle's mother Cheryl Baggett said.