By Shawntaye Hopkins
shopkins@herald-leader.com
WILLIAMSTOWN — A Grant County man who pleaded guilty last month to murdering his parents was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 20 years.
Russell Bramlage
Russell G. Bramlage, 23, was indicted in April on several charges, including two counts of murder in the deaths of Terry and Lynda Bramlage, both 53. Police found their bodies in the basement of their home in Williamstown on Nov. 13. Both had been shot twice with a shotgun.
On Wednesday, Circuit Judge Stephen L. Bates accepted the prosecutions recommendation that Bramlage serve a life sentence for each murder count, 20 years for first-degree robbery charge and five years each on charges of tampering with physical evidence and criminal possession of a forged instrument.
During sentencing Wednesday, Bramlage said he wanted to speak, but he did not want to discuss what was on his mind in open court.
“The people that need to hear it, they will hear it,” Bramlage said.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Crawford said he didn’t know what Bramlage planned to say, but he had hoped that Bramlage would apologize to the family.
“This family will go through years of trying to get over this,” Crawford said.
Defense attorneys were not immediately available to comment.
Bill Schild, Lynda Bramlage’s brother, said he was satisfied with the sentence and that the family was looking forward to moving on with their lives. Schild said he was headed to Keeneland after court with his family.
“It is what it is,” he said. “We’re glad that this part of it’s over.”
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