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16-year-old sentenced to 40 years in prison for murder of a brother and sister

During sentencing on a plea agreement, 16-year-old Lometreus Sanders was also given five years on home detention when he is released.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to remove a line about a possible change in plea relating to the plea agreement.

INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — The teenager who shot and killed a brother and sister will spend 40 years in prison.

During sentencing on a plea agreement, 16-year-old Lometreus Sanders was also given five years on home detention when he is released.

Sixteen-year-old Nicholas Nelson and his 15-year-old sister Ashlynn were found shot dead in their Post Brook apartment last year.

Ashlynn and Nicholas Nelson (Courtesy: Nelson family)

Sanders, according to court records, confessed he shot Ashlynn and her brother, who he fought inside the apartment. Sanders claimed he and Ashlynn had been dating for a couple of months, and that’s why he went to their apartment where Nicholas confronted him in her bedroom.

Court documents show Ashlynn sent Sanders a message on Instagram 12 minutes before the shooting, saying, "I came out there to get you."

The siblings' mother faced Sanders in court Wednesday.

“I don't have any ill feelings against him. First I did, but I let those go,” she said.

Sanders was 15 years old at the time of the murders. Antonia feared the case would have never made it to adult court.

"So that is what prompted the agreement. They went back and forth with the defense and came up with the agreement,” she said.

The agreement includes Sanders' guilty plea to two counts of murder and receiving 45 years each, serving 40 years in prison and five years on home detention to run concurrent.

“I am hoping that he changes his life while he is in there and do something good," Bailey said.

Sanders just stared at Antonia Bailey without blinking when she addressed him in court. He looked straight ahead during a statement from the great godmother of his two victims. Both Bailey and the great godmother tried to explain to the young accused killer the power of their forgiveness. They consider Wednesday afternoon’s plea agreement hearing the beginning of some steps towards closure.

"I can have time to actually grieve and not have to prepare to constantly go to court and relive the experience over and over again. I do that in my dreams,” said Bailey, “so I am glad that it's over.”

Sanders told the court through a statement read by his defense attorney that when he went to the apartment last August he had no intention of killing Nicholas and Ashlynn. His mother attended the hearing, but left the City-County Building without speaking to the media.

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