Two 19-year-old Cody men have been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for murdering three Clark residents in March.

The sentences for Tanner B. Vanpelt and Stephen F. Hammer, imposed by DIstrict Court Judge Steven Cranfill at a Tuesday morning hearing, were the result of a plea agreement offered by Park County Attorney Bryan Skoric.

The two young men, having reportedly stolen their guns from a Cody pawn store a few days earlier, had been looking to steal Freitas' Audi A4 and flee the area.

Freitas knew Hammer from when his family lived in the Clark area and had invited the pair into her home that morning, apparently having no idea the teens were armed.

Vanpelt began the violence by pulling out a gun and fatally shooting Freitas, then Hammer drew a gun and shot Hildegard Volgyesi in the basement and finally, Vanpelt encountered and shot Janos Volgyesi in the garage.

Hammer and Vanpelt each pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder at Tuesday's hearing.

Freitas' husband, John Freitas, and her younger brother, Thomas Volgyesi, each spoke at the sentencing hearing, lamenting the loss of their beloved family members for so little.

"They meant the world to me and your senseless act has ruined my life forever," said Thomas Volgyesi.

While saying the death penalty was deserved, Thomas Volgyesi said it would not bring him any closure and he supported a life sentence.

John Freitas similarly described agonizing pain and said he's been sentenced to a lifetime of nightmares.

"There's nothing left," he said.

Both teens cried in court as they apologized for their actions.

"There's no explanation for what I did, but the only thing that I know is that I have to live with it every day," Vanpelt said, wishing he could take it back.

Hammer similarly said his actions couldn't be justified."I can't even fathom what I've put you and everybody through," he said, looking towards the family. "I wish more than anything I could take back what I've done."

Attorneys for Hammer and Vanpelt each said they could not explain why the young men did what they did; each defense attorney described their clients' acts of violence as being out of character.

In accepting the plea agreements and imposing the life sentences, Judge Cranfill said he could not bring back the victims "of this senseless inhumanity," provide answers or erase what the community has experienced. However, Cranfill said he could accept the agreement supported by the family and sentence Vanpelt and Hammer to life in prison.

As per the agreement, Vanpelt received three consecutive sentences of life in prison without the possibilty of parole. For playing a lesser role in two of the shootings, Hammer received one sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole with the other two sentences being life in prison according to law.

While technically different sentences, they mean the same thing: both 19-year-olds have been ordered to spend the rest of their lives in prison.

Judge Cranfill gave both Hammer and Vanpelt the same final words:

"May God have mercy on your soul."

A more complete story will follow in Thursday's edition of the Tribune and online.