The man convicted last year of shooting two women found in an SUV outside a Dayton gas station has learned how long he will spend behind bars.

(DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for breaking news alerts)

Deante Holden, 34, was sentenced to 45 years to life in prison on Wednesday.

As previously reported, Holden was found guilty in July of murder, assault and tampering with evidence in connection with the killings 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, delivered a victim impact statement to the court at the sentencing hearing. He had spoken his last words to his daughter before she left with her friend.

“Have fun, be careful and I love you,” he said.

Daniels didn’t know that these would be the last words he would ever say to his daughter.

Michaela’s daughter Anjanae Milliner also spoke during the sentencing. She said her mother’s death had left a huge hole in her heart and her life.

“I will never get the chance to hug her, smell her scent, tell her I love her and laugh with her,” she said.

Numerous family members from both victims’ families filled the courtroom to support one another. A smaller group of people came to support Holden, who briefly apologized to the families but told the judge he was coerced into his actions.

“I was put in a position where I had to,” Holden said.

Judge Mary Wiseman immediately criticized Holden’s claim that his actions were in self-defense, but the jury rejected this. As reported News Center 7 at 6:00Wiseman called his claims “false, absurd” and an insult to the tragedy.

“They were shot from behind,” Wiseman said. “It’s hard to imagine a more cowardly act.”

LATEST STORIES:

(SIGN UP: WHIO-TV newsletter with daily headlines)