Chester Robert Ulysses Lilly III, center, was sentenced Monday in Wood County Circuit Court to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the June 2019 murder of Travis Peters. Defense attorneys Joe Munoz and Beth Lebow sat with him. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG — The family of Travis Peters told the man convicted of killing him they don’t hate him, but hate what happened and the ongoing impact it has had on their lives.

Marcella Waldron, Peters’ mother, took the stand at the sentencing hearing Monday for Chester Robert Ulysses Lilly III, 33, before Wood County Circuit Judge Robert Waters to discuss what the impact of losing her son has been to her and her family.

In July, a jury convicted Lilly of first-degree murder in the killing of his neighbor Peters in June 2019 with a knife outside their Avery Street homes. The jury convicted him without mercy. Waters sentenced Lilly to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Waldron looked at Lilly and addressed him. Lilly looked down.

“Travis was my only biological son and you brutally murdered him in broad daylight,” she said. “I have to live with that for the rest of my life.

Marcella Waldron, the mother of Travis Peters, took the stand Monday to address the court and Chester Robert Ulysses Lilly III directly at Lilly’s sentencing in the murder of her son. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

“I hope you think about it every second of yours. It has definitely changed my life forever. I cry day in and day out. I cry myself to sleep and I wake up crying.”

She talked about how her son wasn’t perfect, but she misses him dearly. She can’t pick up a knife in the kitchen without imagining her son being stabbed multiple times and having dreams about him dying. She has slept in a recliner since his death.

Waldron said talked about missing the daily calls from her son where he just wanted to hear her voice.

“That is something I will never hear again,” she said “My life will never be the same.

“I don’t hate you, but I hate what you’ve done.”

She said she continually prays for Lilly’s parents and his young son.

“I hope you get your life right with God,” she said.

At different times during the trial and the sentencing hearing, the parents of Lilly and Peters embraced and hugged each other.

Peters’ sister, Tracy, participated through a video conference call. She talked about how Travis was her only brother and how it was the two of them growing up. She shared pictures of the two of them together, talked about the brain injury he suffered and how he had to relearn everything.

Peters has trouble writing out what her brother’s death has done to her and her family.

“Nothing seems like enough,” she said. “No one should have to write anything like this.”

With this murder, Lilly has torn out her heart and has caused recurring nightmares and depression that she has had to seek treatment for to deal with, she said.

Although nothing will ever be the same, they take some comfort in the fact he will be behind bars and not hurting anyone else for the rest of his life, she said.

Chris Waldron, Travis’ step-dad who said he “was his dad,” talked about the impact this has had on their family and the lives of Lilly’s family.

“You have changed everyone’s life forever,” Mr. Waldron said. “You hurt your mom and dad deeply just like you hurt us.

“Our lives will never be the same. I don’t wish evil against you. I know you will have to do your time and pay for your crime.”

Some of Travis’ family members wore shirts to court with an image of Travis on the back playing a guitar with the words, “Picking with the Angels” “September 12, 1978 – June 18, 2019.” On the front there is a small emblem of a dog’s paw with a halo and angel wings with the words, “In Loving Memory Travis Peters.” The paw represents the rescue dogs he brought home and took care of.

Lilly did not say anything before the court Monday. Lilly’s defense attorney Joe Munoz said Lilly was there to listen. Co-counsel Beth Lebow was also present.

Wood County Prosecutor Pat Lefebure said the sentencing will hopefully bring some closure to Peters’ family and “allow them to move on.”

Waters also ordered Lilly to pay restitution to Tracy Peters for $1,930 and $2,413.48 to the West Virginia Crime Victim’s Compensation Fund. Lilly will also be credited for time served. He has a prior conviction of malicious assault and sexual abuse in the third degree and was a registered sex offender.

“This was a terrible and brutal crime and the jury has rendered an appropriate verdict of guilty of murder in the first-degree,” the judge said.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com