LOVINGSTON — A judge Wednesday sentenced the man convicted of abducting and murdering 17-year-old Alexis Murphy to two life sentences in prison.

Just before the decision, Nelson County Circuit Court Judge J. Michael Gamble asked Randy Taylor, 49, if he had anything to say.

Taylor rose from his seat, dressed in a black-and-white striped jumpsuit, tattoos peeking out from his collar and shirtsleeves.

“I didn’t kill Alexis Murphy,” he said. “It’s probably one of the biggest things to happen in Nelson County, and I’m sorry to be a part of it.”

Wednesday’s hearing began with Taylor’s attorney, Mike Hallahan, filing motions asking for Gamble to set aside the jury’s verdict — guilty of first-degree murder and abduction with intent to defile. The jury recommended two life sentences.

Hallahan said too many questions remained unanswered.

“The closest the commonwealth came to proving her death was the lack of her appearance. The evidence is clearly suspicious, but it doesn’t come close to certainty.”

Nelson County Commonwealth’s Attorney Anthony Martin then reviewed evidence from the case, arguing the jury had sufficient evidence to find Taylor guilty.

“Everything was found on the defendant’s property. We had a large puddle of blood on the defendant’s shirt. It was plainly the same shirt seen on the video,” Martin said in court.

Surveillance footage from the Liberty gas station, off U.S. 29 in Lovingston, showed Taylor and Murphy walking by one another the night of Aug. 3, when Murphy vanished.

Gamble dismissed Hallahan’s motions and affirmed the jury’s guilty verdict.

“A homicide can be proven even though a body has not been found,” Gamble said. “The facts clearly show the source of the struggle. All of that was found inside the trailer.”

Martin called only one witness in the Wednesday hearing, Vickie Dowell, a probation officer.

Dowell interviewed Taylor twice to discuss his criminal record before the sentencing hearing.

She testified Taylor lied about some of his past criminal charges spanning multiple states, including Washington, Florida, South Carolina, Virginia and New Jersey.

“He denied having a juvenile record,” Dowell testified. “He denied living in New Jersey, but he did have a record in New Jersey.”

Dowell said Taylor’s first offenses were property crimes committed at the age of 16 which led to his being placed in foster care for a year.

Hallahan declined to cross-examine the witness.

Before concluding his argument, Martin read from a letter written by Laura Murphy, Alexis’ mother:

“‘My whole world has revolved around finding her and bringing her home. We cried on all of the holidays because we missed her so much. I wouldn’t wish this feeling on anyone, even Randy Taylor. Justice will be served with him never getting out of jail.”

In his closing argument, Hallahan brought forth an offer that Taylor would disclose information on Murphy’s whereabouts. Rather than two life sentences, Taylor would get 20 years in prison.

“We have a life sentence versus an almost-life sentence where we could give the family some closure.”

Martin said he and the Murphy family already had dismissed the offer.

“We have definitely done our best to give this family some closure. We have to balance closure with public safety,” Martin said. “His criminal history goes for four pages.”

Outside the courthouse Wednesday, Murphy’s relatives said their struggle continues.

“We got a life sentence last August third,” said Trina Murphy, Alexis’ great-aunt. “Continue to pray for us. Pray for our strength.”

She scoffed at Taylor’s deal.

“I’m not bargaining with a murderer,” she said. “He will never do this to another young girl or a community.”