VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A man who police say confessed to killing a Virginia Beach mother was sentenced to serve 25 years and 6 months in prison Tuesday.
Lamont Johnson, 45, was convicted of a second-degree murder charge and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
During a four-day trial back in May of this year, prosecutors showed a jury video of an interview he had with detectives, saying he got into a fight with his then-partner and the victim, Bellamy Gamboa.
He then told police he pushed her down the stairs of the apartment they shared while holding one of their twin children in his hand. He said in the video after he put his child in the playpen, he proceeded to push Gamboa to the ground and choked her until she died.
Prosecutors also presented video of Johnson showing detectives where he said he dumped her body and then proceeded to show video of the trash unit where her body was reportedly dumped in Chesapeake.
Prosecutors pointed out the trash in the dumpster where Johnson said he threw her body was then put into an incinerator, leaving no evidence behind.
As of today, her body has not been recovered.
The grandfather of Gamboa's two oldest children, Kyle Hicks, said the family is still struggling.
“I just want God to forgive him, I have to forgive him,” Hicks said. “We serve a mighty God. I have to forgive him, and I’ll be on my knees praying for God to help me because what he did is so horrible. I just can’t imagine it. I can’t fathom it.”
Hicks' wife, Roxanne said, Gamboa’s children are traumatized by what happened.
“What they’ve gone through and the suffering they’ve had,” she said. “And never will have anything to do with her, ever again. How cruel. How cruel could you be to take that from them? And his children?”
At his sentencing, Johnson said "panic and confusion" led to his confession. He asked for mercy and said he regrets the “unfortunate series of events” that brought him to court. Virginia Beach Circuit Court Judge James Lewis said this is one of the "most vile and inhumane cases” he’s ever come across.
He said Johnson’s lack of remorse is disgusting.
“We’ll miss Bellamy,” Hicks said. “They don’t have their mom! They don’t have their mom!”
Roxanne Hicks said closure is something the is struggling to find.
“He’s had no remorse, whatsoever… There is no closure. How can you really get closure?” she asked. “[We’re] grateful that he got what the jury gave him, wish he could have gotten more. Because he actually was executioner of her.”
Multiple family members of Gamboa provided emotional testimony throughout the jury trial. More than 15 hours of evidence in total were used in deliberations.
At the conclusion of the trial, a full sentence of 25 years and six months was recommended. The jury had also recommended Johnson serve an additional six months on the charge of leaving his twins home alone at the time of the murder.