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Families of victims of convicted serial killer speak about heartbreak and life after loss

Posted at 11:33 AM, Oct 16, 2018
and last updated 2018-10-16 13:19:59-04

Mothers, fathers, wives and grandmothers spoke of heartbreak while remembering their loved ones during Tuesday's sentencingof serial killer Robert Rembert.

Judge Joan Synenberg sentenced Rembert to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years.

Rembert entered a guilty plea for the killings of Rena Mae Payne in May of 1997, Kimberly D. Hall in June of 2015, and Morgan Nietzel and Jerry Rembert in September of 2015.

Many of the family members gave tearful statements and spoke about the heart-wrenching effects the loss of life had not only on themselves, but on their grandchildren and children of the victims. 

The family members of Rena Mae Payne were not present in court because they were still grieving at the loss of their daughter, according to the prosecutor.

The first to speak was the mother of Kimberly Hall, who was killed in June 2015.

"Kimberly Hall was my daughter. She was my youngest child. She was a good-natured child. She was good-hearted and wouldn’t hurt anybody. Her only problem of recent in the last years was a bad drug addiction and that was what caused her demise," said Cathy Campensa.

Robert Thomas and Michelle Thomas, the parents of Morgan Nietzel, said her death is not only hard on them, but their 6-year-old grandson.

"I just miss my daughter, said Michelle Thomas.

"I do, too," said Robert Thomas. "We have a 6-year-old grandson who wants to kill himself to be by his mother... It’s not just my grandchild either. He [Robert Rembert] left a lot of children without parents."

Holding back tears, Campensa said, "The youngest one has a lit bit more problems because she was really close to her mother. She will cry and say she lost her best friend, so it’s hard. We do a lot of crying. I have some of her ashes and I got a tattoo of one of her favorite things on my arm. We just miss her."

At the end of his sentencing, Rembert addressed the court.

"There is nothing I could possibly say to change what happened or what I did. All I can say is that I am sorry and ask that you pray for me. I'm sorry," said Rembert.

All the family members who spoke to News 5 after the sentencing said they are displeased with Rembert's sentencing. They feel like justice wasn't served.