SANTA ANA – As a killer called the murders of his ex-wife and her father “a horrible accident,” relatives and supporters of the victims paid moving tributes to them Friday.

Superior Court Judge Richard Toohey sentenced Robert Allan Lehmann, 37, of Costa Mesa to two life terms in prison without parole, plus an additional 50 years, for his point-blank shootings of Emily Ford and Russell Ford.

Lehmann shot and killed the pair on the day a family court judge ruled in Emily Ford’s favor in a custody fight over their 7-year-old girl. Russell and Emily Ford had arrived at Lehmann’s home to take custody of the girl at the time of the shootings, which Lehmann’s attorney argued during trial and Lehmann maintained Friday stemmed from a prescription drug-induced state.

Prosecutors say Lehmann armed himself May 3, 2011, sent his daughter and his current wife to get ice cream, loaded a Beretta 9 mm handgun, took his antidepressant drugs, drank beer and waited.

He shot Emily Ford, 32, and Russell Ford, 62, several times when they came to the front door. While they were on the ground, Lehmann reloaded the gun and shot the Fords repeatedly in the back of the head.

A jury in September found Lehmann guilty of two counts of murder and other charges.

“There are no words that can describe the horror that I have been through,” Emily Ford’s younger sister Robin Gordon said through tears in court. “No words to help you see the chunks of my heart and soul that were gouged out on May 3rd that I can never have back.”

She spoke of a loving sister, a lifelong friend who was a great listener with a knack for connecting with people. She spoke of a father, an “incredibly modest” man who took his two girls camping and would talk with them about the world around them, from the plants to the stars.

“He wore his Pink Lightning shirt with pride when he coached my softball team,” said Gordon. “He was never too busy for his girls or for his wife.”

As much as he loved his family, Russell Ford was passionate about fly fishing and his students at Spurgeon Intermediate School in Santa Ana, where he taught for more than three decades, influencing a generation of students.

“One way to measure a man’s life is to see how people react when he’s gone,” Margaret Mayes, who worked with Russell Ford at the school, told Judge Toohey.

Spurgeon Intermediate’s community recognized Russell Ford’s contributions by dedicating a building to him named Russ Ford Hall.

Theresa Ford, an elementary school principal, spoke of the pain of losing her husband of 39 years and her precious daughter.

“I sleep almost enough, eat too much, and cry frequently – usually at night by myself but in stolen moments throughout my days,” she said. “I cry when (her granddaughter Amanda) asks me if they might be able to come back after a year … I cry, I remember, I do my best to look forward, and I breathe.”

The impact of Lehmann’s actions is indescribable, Theresa Ford said.

“It was an abomination, it was pure evil, it was criminal … and although it will not bring my two loves back, it deserves punishment,” she told Toohey.

While apologizing for the pain his actions have caused, Lehmann maintained he “did not make a conscious decision” beyond overdosing on his prescription medication the day of the shootings.

“Although contrary to the verdict, I was not conscious when I committed that terrible act,” he said, adding that he was tormented that he ultimately caused the deaths of Emily and Russell Ford.

Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy would have none of Lehmann’s statement.

“Today the defendant had an opportunity to take responsibility for what he did and I submit what he said was the polar opposite of that,” Murphy told the judge.

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