Jose Morales, 48, will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing Ansonia mom Christine Holloway, 43, as the couple’s daughter remains missing.

On Monday, Judge Shari Murphy sentenced Morales to the maximum time possible—65 years in prison—after a jury convicted him in April of murder and evidence tampering.

About 20 of Holloway’s loved ones packed the gallery at Milford Superior Court wearing shirts with Holloway’s picture on the front and Vanessa Morales’s picture on the back.

Vanessa was 14 months old when she vanished during her mother’s murder. Morales was named a suspect but never charged in his daughter’s disappearance. That didn’t stop Holloway’s loved ones from confronting him when they emotionally addressed the court.

“What was done to my niece, Christine Holloway, is unforgivable and disgusting and that monster continues to lie. Where is Vanessa? How could someone be so cruel?” sobbed Anna Rodonski, Holloway’s aunt.

Rodonski had to stay silent day after day in court during Morales' murder trial as she learned the gruesome details of what Holloway endured—at least eight separate blows to her skull with a blunt force instrument. On Monday, Rodonski let out every emotion. She shared the pain her family has endured for 5 ½ years—ever since December 2019 when Ansonia police found Holloway’s beaten body in the bathtub of her home and no sign of Vanessa. Rodonski recalled meeting with the cemetery ahead of Holloway's burial.

“We had to ask if they could dig the hole a little deeper in case Vanessa would be joining her?! Nobody should ever have to think about asking that question, nobody!” Rodonski cried.

Vanessa’s disappearance loomed over the sentencing hearing despite the judge saying she wouldn’t consider it when handing down Morales' prison term.

“He should definitely die in jail. He should never get out. He shows no remorse. Not one tear has come down his face this whole time,” stated Holloway’s brother, Steven Holloway.

Morales kept his eyes closed for much of the time Holloway's family spoke, never looking their way, even when addressed.

“All this monster does is think about himself. He is nothing but a self-self-centered narcissistic piece of trash that should live his life in an 8X8 cell,” Jodi Jacobellis, Holloway’s sister-in-law and best friend, tearfully told the court. “I know my sister-in-law was welcomed into the gates of heaven, but I pray, when your day comes, you may rot in the gates of hell!”

Morales’ attorney Ed Gavin said his client had written a statement for court, but Gavin advised him not to read it. Gavin also proposed a far lesser sentence than Holloway’s loved ones and pointed to a proposed deal that came up before the trial began but wasn’t agreed to.

“Mr. Morales offered to plead guilty to murder and accept a sentence of 35 years to avoid the heartache that this family has gone through,” Gavin explained. “I would suggest to the court that a sentence of 35 years is appropriate.”

But Murphy disagreed, handing down the maximum for each charge—60 years for murder and five for evidence tampering—and having the sentences run consecutively rather than concurrently.

“Christine had the right to be safe in her relationship with her young daughter’s father, safe in her own home. This was a cruel, intentional, senseless, violent act,” Murphy stated. “You have no regard for the rule of law and a callous disregard for human life. Your record clearly shows prison sentences, probation and special parole do not dissuade you from committing future crime.”

Murphy also told Holloway’s loved ones that she hopes this sentence provides a bit of closure and opens a path to healing, which she knows will be a lifelong process.

Holloway’s family spoke with reporters outside the courthouse, thanking police and court officials.

“We are happy today, and just grateful to everybody for their support. We're grateful he can’t hurt anybody anymore,” Rodonski said as she one of Vanessa’s bibs.

“Justice was served today in honor of Chrissy. Now, the next big step we have to face is finding Vanessa and bringing her home,” Jacobellis stated.

Several members of the Ansonia Police Department were in court for the sentencing.

“We are grateful for the outcome of this case. Our officers put a lot of hard work and effort into it with our partners, and we feel that justice was done,” Lt. Patrick Lynch told reporters.

Police also released the following statement: “The Ansonia Police Department continues to investigate the disappearance of Vanessa Morales. The homicide of Christine Holloway was only one aspect of the investigation and with that resolved our next goal is to determine what happened to Vanessa. The Detective Bureau continually reviews the case and will now begin to review the court transcripts for any new information.”

Anyone with information can contact the police department at 203-735-1885.

MORE: The Jose Morales trial - The murder of Christine Holloway and mystery of their missing daughter