Through tears, Lisa Ratliff said in court Thursday that her uncle, Keith Wade Jones, was like a father figure to her.
But, she said, that was before he shot and killed her boyfriend last fall, leaving her a "shattered woman."
Jones, 61, was sentenced to up to 30 years in prison by Kanawha Circuit Judge Duke Bloom on Thursday. The Rand man pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last month, after originally being charged with first-degree murder in the death of Joe Williams, 34.
The shooting happened on Sept. 29, which was Jones' birthday. Ratliff and Williams had moved in with him four days before, after being homeless for a time.
Kanawha County public defender Ronni Sheets said Jones had been drinking excessively since early morning that day. Family members stopped by his residence on Elaine Drive in Rand, to wish him well.
One family member brought moonshine, which Jones and Williams drank as the evening progressed. They were also drinking rum, Sheets said.
Williams apparently said something to anger Jones, who took out a .38 Special revolver and shot Williams in the head, according to the criminal complaint.
Sheets said Jones, who did not speak during Thursday's hearing, can't remember what Williams said to anger him.
"It's likely neither of them were in their right minds," the public defender said. She asked the judge to consider Jones' age, poor health and minimal criminal history before sentencing him.
"You got into an argument..." Bloom told Jones. "That does not justify by any stretch of the imagination shooting someone in the head."
Reach Kayla Asbury at kayla.asbury@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-3051 or follow @kasbury_ on Twitter.