Judge Stella Hargrove ignored mitigating factors presented by defense attorneys and imposed the maximum sentence of 18 years for Parker Ray Elliott in the attempted second-degree murder of his son, Seth Elliott and for an aggravated burglary charge.

Hargrove also ruled Friday the two first-degree murder sentences of life imprisonment without possibility of parole and the 18-year sentence will run consecutively, or back-to-back. Two of the five-counts in the indictment were merged in an agreement between the district attorney and defense counsel.

Hargrove refused to accept any of the mitigating factors presented by Shipp Weems, Elliott?s defense attorney. While the judge would not allow some of the enhancing factors presented by the district attorney, when it came to the mitigating factors, the judge refused a single one.

?There are no mitigating factors in this case,? Hargrove said. ?The court refuses to accept any of the factors suggested by the defense as mitigating Mr. Elliott?s conduct.?

Hargrove called Elliott a ?dangerous offender? and said an extended sentence was necessary to protect the people of Maury County. She said one of the reasons for such a decision was Elliott being on probation when he committed the murders.

The defense wanted Hargrove to consider Elliott?s ?diminished capacity? but the judge rebuffed the argument.

?There is no diminished capacity for Elliott. While Freda and her children?s survival plan failed, Parker Ray Elliott?s survival plan worked,? the judge said.

Freda, Rachel and Seth?s survival plan was to hide their mother in a closet, have her call police and the children would try to hold their father outside the bedroom until officers arrived.

The judge said Parker Elliott?s survival plan of an escape into the woods on the Maury-Lawrence county line succeeded.

?These are cruel, unspeakable acts of violence,? Hargrove said, ?not diminished capacity. The greatest confinement is necessary for these reprehensible actions.?

Members of Freda?s family expressed relief the ordeal of the trial and sentencing was over. Judi Farnsworth, Freda?s youngest sister, said from her Alliance, Ohio home that she felt better knowing Parker Ray Elliott would spend the rest of his life behind bars.

?I definitely feel better now that it?s over. I would?ve preferred the death penalty for Parker,? she said.

?I?m disappointed they didn?t even come back with the death penalty, but at least he?ll be locked up for the rest of his natural life,? Farnsworth said.

Farnsworth, who was in Columbia for the jury trial, said the process was difficult for all the family members, but it did help them understand exactly what happened.

?Hearing the 911 tape was tough as well as seeing the video of Freda?s home after the murders. The trial did give me a little peace knowing the details. I didn?t know how many times Freda had been shot,? she said.

Her most compassionate words were for her nephew, Seth Elliott. Farnsworth said the 17-year old had lost his entire family.

Farnsworth said the criminal justice system failed Freda, and more should have been done to prevent what happened.

?Freda knew something more needed to be done to protect her family from Parker Ray Elliott. I feel the system failed her. There should have been stiffer penalties against him and something more should have been done,? Farnsworth said.

The mother of two was very complimentary of District Attorney General Mike Bottom?s handling of the case. Farnsworth said she particularly appreciated the DA?s office helping the family through the trial and sentencing process.

credit to Columbia Daily Herald