Troy

Six months after he killed Amber Lynne Fernald in front of her three children, Alexis Torres sat impassively in court on Thursday as her family told of the void in their lives.

"When Alexis killed my sister, he killed part of me," Colleen Peterson told Rensselaer County Judge Andew Ceresia.

The older two of Fernald's three children, ages 13, 12, and 3, looked on as Fernald's mother, Patricia Morris Fernald, spoke.

"It wasn't an accident that took my baby girl from me," she said holding back tears. "It was the actions of a soulless monster."

About halfway through, she broke down and Justin Sherrod, Amber Fernald's oldest son, read the statement.

"I hope that for the rest of your life that you are haunted by the images of what you did to the woman you said you loved," he said. "We hope you burn in Hell."

Torres, 28, said nothing as Ceresia sentenced him to 20 years to life in prison for his guilty plea to killing Fernald, 33. Ceresia also signed orders of protection for her children until 2113.

Afterward, Defense Attorney Danielle Neroni-Reilly spoke up for Torres with one request: Keep his jailers from cutting his hair.

Fernald's astonished family members were about to respond when Assistant District Attorney Shane Hug stopped them.

The judge said he had no power over whether state prison officials trim Torres' hair, worn in a ponytail, and told him to make the request when he got to prison. It was unclear Thursday if Torres' request was for religious reasons.

On June 10, Fernald was asleep in her Lansingburgh home with her youngest child at her side when Torres broke in, dragged her from her bed and stabbed her in front of all three children. It was her daughter Alanna's 12th birthday.

Torres also suffered some injuries when he tried to kill himself.

"If you actually tried really hard to stab and kill yourself, there's a reason why you lived," Peterson said. "You sit at the table you do today because even God doesn't want you."

Torres, originally from Puerto Rico, was on probation for a previous conviction for attempted burglary.

On Oct. 8, Torres pleaded guilty to Fernand's murder through an interpreter.

Peterson said Fernald had tried to break up with Torres many times, but stayed with him out of fear.

An order of protection was in place to keep Torres away from Fernald and her family because of earlier problems.

Fernald's three children are being taken care of by their fathers and other family members, Hug said. "They're in safe hands now."

kclukey@timesunion.com • 518-454-5467 • @KClukey_TU