A 23-year-old man will spend life behind bars, but not before getting an earful from friends of the young woman he killed.
Three years is a long time to wait for justice. And even with a convicted murderer behind bars there are memories to deal with.
Rivera received life in prison for the capital crime, and is eligible for parole in 30 years. The lighter sentence comes because authorities picked Rivera up in Mexico, where death sentences are a no-no. Because of that, the death penalty was removed as an option in his extradition.
God grant you forgiveness.You took everything from me. She was my best friend, said Monica Peck in an emotional stand-off with her best friend's killer.
At the courthouse 23-year old Giovany Rivera would only nod occasionally in response, when he wasn't just staring at friends and family of Amber Belken.
Belken was found suffocated with a plastic bag over her head,at the video game store she managed.
Amber's parents asked Rivera why? Why would he strangle a young woman, for some video games and chump change?
Amber Belken's father and mother showed the convicted killer a picture of their daughter.
Telling him that he just didn't kill one person, he killed three because Rivera shattered the Belken family.
