DAYTON — 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’ll be behind bars.
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Deante Holden, 34, was sentenced on Wednesday to 45 years to life in prison.
As previously reported, Holden was found guilty of several counts of murder, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence in July. The charges were in connection to the killing 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’d spoken his last words to his daughter before she headed out with her friend.
“Have fun, be careful and I love you,” he said.
Daniels didn’t know those would be the last words he’d ever speak to his daughter.
Michaela’s daughter, Anjanae Milliner, also spoke during the sentencing. She said her mother’s death left a huge hole in her heart and her life.
“I’m never going to get that chance to hug her and smell her and tell her that I love her and laugh with her,” she said.
Large numbers of family members from both victims’ families filled the courtroom to support each other. A smaller 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 lashed out at Holden’s insistence that his actions were in self-defense, something the jury rejected. As reported on News Center 7 at 6:00, Wiseman called his claims “bogus, preposterous,” and insulting to the tragedy.
“They were shot from behind,” Wiseman said. “It’s hard to imagine a more cowardly act.”
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