AKRON, Ohio -- Marie Ralston sobbed as she spoke about forever missing the companionship of her only daughter and young grandson.

A jury decided last week that Daniel Tighe, 41, should serve life in prison without parole eligibility in the August 2013 murder of his 5-year-old son Peyton Ralson.

In addition to the jury's sentence, Summit County Judge Lynne Callahan on Wednesday tacked on an additional sentence of 17 years-to-life for the death of the child's mother, Wendy Ralston. Tighe was convicted of both charges Feb. 27.

"There's something special about having a little girl," Marie Ralston said. "Never did I perceive I'd be here because a horrible man murdered her."

Standing beside Wendy Ralston's 14-year-old daughter, Alexis, during Wednesday's hearing, Marie Ralston said Tighe once assaulted her daughter so bad she was covered in bruises. She also said Tighe bullied her sister and even tried coax her into committing suicide. Marie Ralston also said that her grandson refused to talk about Tighe after visiting with him.

"He would yell, 'Don't ask me about daddy or he will kill mommy,'" Marie Ralston said.

Bill Ralston, Wendy Ralston's father, said after the hearing that the family had hoped that the jury would recommend the death penalty.

Tighe declined to speak during the hearing on the advice of his attorneys. Defense attorney Brian Pierce said Tighe plans to appeal the case.

Callahan appointed defense attorney Donald Hicks to handle the appeal. She called Tighe "monstrous" and said that the murders were "incomprehensible."

"After you killed Wendy you could have called the police or you could have ran -- that would have been more courageous then what you did next," Callahan said. "Instead you took the boy and his mother and you discarded their bodies like trash for maggots to eat while you went inside and ate pizza."