April Millsap's Killer Sentenced to Life Without Parole

• Get Patch’s daily newsletter and real-time news alerts.

The mother of convicted killer James D. VanCallis shouted in a crowded Macomb County courtroom Wednesday that she loved her son after he was sentenced to life in prison for the July 2014 murder of 14-year-old April Millsap, who was bludgeoned and strangled as she walked her dog on a popular recreational trail.

Jennifer Millsap, the victim’s mother, expressed the opposite emotion.

"I pity you and I hate you and I can never forgive you,” she said, to a report in the Detroit Free Press.

Reading from a lengthy prepared statement, the grieving mother continued:

"What did April ever do to you for you to be so brutal with her? Did you even know her? What was your plan for her that night? Why did you have to hurt her? Just because she ignored your advances, she deserved to die? What made you so darn special?"

VanCallis, of Goodells, was denied the possibility of parole. He convicted last month of first-degree murder, kidnapping and assault with intent to commit rape.

In his own statement, VanCallis told Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Mary Chrzanowski that he was innocent and was inexplicably tied to “a sad chain of events” and said the case against him was “a fraud.” During his trial, he did not take the stand in his own defense.

"The reality is we're here to sentence you today ... not retry the case," Chrzanowski said.

“My son was framed,” his mother, Brenda Pupi told reporters after the sentencing, according to WWJ. “Yes, sir! I believe it with all my heart.”

“I have 13 grandchildren and I will put my hand to God that these officers framed my son, because they had to get somebody; they had to nail somebody; they had to have somebody,” Pupi said. “The people wanted someone.”

The victim was found dead July 24, 2014, along the Macomb Orchard Trail in Armada after her dog, Penny, led joggers to her body.

She died of blunt head trauma and asphyxia due to neck compression, according to her death certificate.

According to police, VanCallis hit the teen over the head with his motorcycle helmet, stomped on her neck, dragged her into the woods and beat her to death before pulling off her clothes. The crime was random, authorities said, after Millsap rebuked his advances.

The last text from her phone was from her boyfriend, sent moments before her death.

“I think I almost got kidnapped omfg,” she texted.