Cody Nathaniel Bacon (left) is hugged by his mother, Amy Layne, after his sentencing hearing Friday in Barren Circuit Court. Bacon was sentenced to life in prison with no chance at parole for 25 years after pleading guilty to two counts of murder and two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment in the 2021 deaths of his brother, David Pace, and sister-in-law, Brittany Pace.

GLASGOW – David and Brittany Pace’s lives came to an end at the hands of a relative, shot to death in 2021 by David’s brother, Cody Nathaniel Bacon.

In the two years that have passed, surviving family members said Friday in court that they have alternately contended with their grief and pledged resilience in the face of tragedy.

Bacon, 23, of Glasgow, was sentenced Friday in Barren Circuit Court to life in prison with no chance at parole for at least 25 years.

Bacon had pleaded guilty in September to two counts of murder and two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, having admitted to shooting David Pace, 24, and Brittany Pace, 22, on Sept. 2, 2021, at their North Race Street residence with their two children present.

Five surviving family members delivered victim impact statements at the sentencing hearing, coming up one at a time to sit next to Barren County Commonwealth’s Attorney John Gardner to do so, struggling at times with their emotions as other relatives sobbed softly behind them.

Amy Layne, the mother of both Bacon and David Pace, spoke of how her grief was magnified by one of her sons being a victim at the hands of her other son.

“I try to find the words to describe the emptiness I feel every day, but nothing seems to be enough,” Layne said before addressing Bacon. “I miss my son tremendously, I’m not sure I miss the man he’s become, but I miss the little boy I knew.”

During the hearing, Layne sat behind Bacon and his court-appointed defense team of attorneys Lauren Hunter and Wesley Boyarski of the Department of Public Advocacy, but she crossed to the other side of the courtroom beforehand to hug other relatives.

After court adjourned, Layne was given a few moments to sit with Bacon and hug him before he was led out of the courtroom by security.

“My soul was broken that day, my heart numbed, my mind confused, time passes and the emptiness remains,” Layne said. “A mother’s love knows no end and no boundary, with God’s love we’ll survive as a family.”

Brittany Pace’s father, Glenn Dennison, said his life changed irrevocably after losing his daughter and the son-in-law who he considered a son.

“I just hope you realize how many people you hurt that day,” Dennison said. “I’m a long ways from being right with God, but I’m working on it.”

David Pace’s father, also named David Pace, quoted two Bible passages and spoke of finding a path to forgiving Bacon, while encouraging Bacon to seek forgiveness for himself.

“I’ve felt plenty of pain for everyone involved in this, even you,” Pace said, addressing Bacon. “You are prayed for … I hope you take advantage of this time you have and come to know God.”

Brittany Pace’s sister, Tonya Dennison, and her step-father, Steve Parker, shared personal memories of their lost loved one.

Parker spoke of happy memories of family birthday parties that the tragedy threatened to overshadow, while Dennison described growing up with her best friend whose “goofy laugh” has been inherited by her son.

Parker said many surviving family members have sought therapy and medication to help process their grief, and acknowledged the work will continue well after the court proceedings.

“I hope you find peace, get the help you need and take advantage of all the programs available to you while you serve your time,” Parker said, addressing Bacon. “I also thank God for justice being served today, but I wish none of this happened.”

Bacon did not speak at his sentencing, while Hunter said the sentence negotiated as part of the plea agreement was a fair resolution to the case.

Gardner had filed notice early in the criminal case that he intended to seek enhanced penalties – including the death penalty – had the case gone to trial, but he said in court Friday that the plea agreement calling for a life sentence requiring Bacon to serve 25 years before meeting the parole board was a fair resolution that surviving family supported.

Barren Circuit Judge John Alexander extolled the family members present in the courtroom for their conduct while weathering a tragedy.

“I appreciate a little bit about the emotion and fears and the anguish that the folks on both sides have had to go through,” Alexander said as he formally sentenced Bacon. “I’m not in a position to forgive on anyone’s behalf, because that’s not my place, but it’s a good thing for people to find their way to that because it just eats away and eats away and eats away … I hope everyone is able to resolve all these conflicting feelings in their minds and I know their hearts are in the right place. I don’t think there’s a person in this room that wouldn’t undo this.”