Ken Isakson, who runs his own carpeting business, and Cindy Isakson, who is a postal worker, said a bewildering mix of emotions would overcome them when they saw Tiliaia, handcuffed and shackled in a jail jumpsuit but seemingly happy.

"He was cocky at every hearing," Cindy Isakson said. "He was cocky throughout the trial."

"The first time I saw him was the hardest," Ken Isakson said. "He had a smile on his face. He's trying to flip gang signs to a couple of his friends. I wanted to jump over that bench and rip his head off his shoulders. That kid hadn't realized the grief he whirled us into."

Prosecutors said Tiliaia and some of his friends crashed a party attended by Lindsay Isakson, Kehndra and her fiance, Valdez.

Tiliaia started playing dice, got enraged because he thought he had been cheated, whipped out a gun and began firing, sending partygoers fleeing in all directions, prosecutors said. Upon leaving the house, prosecutors said Tiliaia turned, and three eyewitnesses said they saw him deliberately take aim at Kehndra, shooting her in the chest and leaving her dying in her sister's arms. Valdez also was wounded, as were three other people.

At his sentencing, Tiliaia said he shouldn't have taken a gun to the party, and there was no excuse for what he had done. But he repeatedly denied killing Kehndra.

Third District Judge Leslie Lewis sentenced Tiliaia, a previously convicted felon, to five years to life in prison for first-degree felony murder, one to 15 years each for second-degree felony aggravated assault and obstruction of justice, and up to five years for third-degree felony aggravated assault, with the sentences running consecutively.

The Isaksons have promised themselves they will attend every court hearing, watch every appeal and speak at every parole hearing at the prison.

Vows Ken Isakson: "I'm going to keep him there as long as I can."

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E-mail: lindat@desnews.com