By Mollee Francisco

“To the families I have hurt, I don’t expect my words to give much comfort,” a somber Joel Beckrich told a full courtroom Friday morning at his sentencing hearing. “But I feel I must say something – I’m sorry.”

Moments later, Judge Philip Kanning accepted the 21-year-old's guilty pleas for second degree murder and attempted first degree murder and sentenced him to 45 years in prison for his part in the murder of Nancy Everson and the attempted murder of her husband Tom. Nancy was found shot to death in her Chaska residence on Jan. 15.

The hefty sentence surprised no one in the courtroom Friday. It was agreed upon by Beckrich and the Carver County Attorney’s Office back in October in exchange for Beckrich’s testimony during Grant Everson’s trial. Grant, the son of Tom and Nancy, was found guilty of four counts of murder by a jury earlier this month. His sentencing will take place sometime in January.

With good behavior, Beckrich will be eligible for parole and 15 years supervised release after 30 years in prison.

“This brings an end to one of the cases,” said prosecuting attorney Peter Ivy following the hearing. “Hopefully it brings some relief to Tom Everson.”

Tom was in the courtroom Friday with several friends and family members there to support him. He took that opportunity to address Beckrich, calling his act “selfish” and adding that anyone who commits such a selfish act is “a failure of a human being.”

But Tom was also quick to note that he had no hatred toward Beckrich.

“I don’t hate you, Joel,” he said. “I don’t.”

“You will likely never have a life, a wife, a family like I had,” said Tom in a prepared statement. “You’ll never know the pain of having them taken from you.”

Beckrich, who listened to Tom’s words with his head hanging low, also addressed the court.

“The pain I will carry with me with always outweigh my sentence,” he said.

“I ask for forgiveness. I have asked God and now I ask you,” he said, adding that he didn’t expect an answer.

Tom did not give him an answer, saying that only “a higher power” could forgive him.

Also speaking Friday morning was Nancy’s older brother Phil McCartney. Ivy read a Victim Impact Statement from him asking for the maximum penalty allowed under law.

“This has left a gaping hole in my life,” he wrote. “I do not want anyone else to be victimized by these men.”

Rounding out the speeches were Beckrich’s parents, Matt and Michelle.

“Today is the first day of your journey,” Michelle told her son. “Regrettably it will be long, difficult and lonely.”

But Michelle added that they had hope for him.

“Joel, you’ve been given a second chance,” she continued. “Believe it to be true, God has a plan for you.”

Beckrich nodded.

“I will earn a degree and I will teach others,” he said. “I have found new life through Jesus Christ.”

The Beckrich’s also spoke to Nancy’s family.

“Words cannot express our deepest sympathy for your loss,” Michelle said looking toward Tom and sobbing. “I hope you find strength and conviction to reinvigorate your happiness.

“Our heavy hearts reach out to yours.”

As they walked back to their seats, Tom stood up and reached across the aisle to embrace them. It was a moment that triggered tears throughout the courtroom, even from the judge.

“I’m supposed to be the tough one in this courtroom today and I’m having trouble with that,” said Kanning.

“Here are two families tragically pushed together, two families whose lives will never be the same,” he shook his head.

Kanning said that he hoped Beckrich would be able to do something positive with his life.

“This sentence doesn’t give me hope,” he told Beckrich. “Your actions (from now on will) give me hope.”

After handing down his sentence, he invited the Beckrich’s forward to hug their son. With arms clutching one another, the Beckrich’s shared a very public goodbye with their son.

Less than an hour later, deep inside the Carver County Jail, Beckrich sat quietly waiting for his transfer to prison. He passed the time as he waited filling out paperwork and gathering his personal items.

Out of the courtroom and safe in the confines of the jail where he has spent the past 11 months, Beckrich was noticeably more at ease. Meanwhile, his parents waited in the lobby for their chance to say a private goodbye to their son before he headed off to begin his prison sentence.