Gloucester, Va. - Two parents already serving time for nearly starving their daughter to death were sentenced Wednesday for abusing their infant son.
Shannon and Brian Gore are currently serving a 30-year sentence for nearly starving their 6-year-old daughter Allison to death. In May, the two were found guilty on more charges - felony child neglect in connection to the death of 7-month-old baby Connor.
They were each additionally sentenced to 10 years on Wednesday, with most of it suspended.
Before the sentencing came down, both Shannon and Brian Gore made their final plea to the judge.
"I would like to express remorse for my son. If I knew then what I know now, I would have done things differently," Shannon cried. "There is never a day in my life I don't miss him."
"I truly wish I had acted differently," Brian Gore read from a pre-written statement. "I didn't do right by my son. I pray one day God will allow me to rejoin him and for His forgiveness."
All but 3 years of Shannon Gore's sentence was suspended.
"I think the judge's sentence was very reasonable and fair today," said Shannon Gore's attorney, Richard Langhorn. "I still take issue with the finding of guilt but that considered, I think the outcome was beneficial to her."
Brian Gore's attorney, Michael Hyman, didn't feel the same way. Brian Gore has to serve 4 years and 9 months for the charges.
"It's harsh," Hyman said outside of court. "We toss around 5 years like it's nothing, it's a long time. He's got to serve 30 years already."
The parents are already serving 30 years for nearly starving their then 6-year-old daughter Alison to death. In 2011, she was found starved, naked and barely alive in a makeshift cage in their Gloucester home. During that investigation, they found baby Conner's body buried in a wooden box underneath their shed.
Back in May, the judge dropped murder charges against the Gores saying prosecutors didn't provide enough evidence these parents killed their son; however, they did prove Conner was so malnourished, his body was taking nutrients from his own bones.
"Your conduct remains baffling to me," Judge William Hamlin said in court Wednesday. "I understand it no better now than when we started. Why you would choose to subject your child to abuse is unknown, but subject him you did."
Both Brian and Shannon Gore have 30 days to appeal the guilty verdict. Their attorneys say a decision to do so hasn't been made yet.
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