>> Bruce: A DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENT
IN A LOCAL MURDER CASE.
THE KILLER COLLAPSED AND SOBBING
IN COURT AS THE MOTHER DESCRIBED
HOW HER DAUGHTER WAS MURDERED.
THAT COME FROM THE DUVAL COUNTY
COURTHOUSE.
JAMES ARE RHODEZ PLED GET IN
EXCHANGE, HE WILL SPEND LIFE IN
PRISON.
HE PREVIOUSLY FACED THE DEATH
PENALTY.
HE IS ACCUSED OF ROBBING AND
KILLING SHELBY FARRA.
ASHLEY WAS IN THE COURTROOM THIS
MORNING.
WE'LL FIRST CHECK BEING IN WITH
CHRIS WITH MORE ON THE CASE.
>> Reporter: A VERY EMOTIONAL
SCENE INSIDE OF THE COURTROOM
TODAY AS THE STATE ATTORNEY READ
ARE STATEMENTS FROM SHELBY'S
PARENTS AND SIBLING AND THE
MOTHER SPOKE AS WELL.
MULTIPLE BREAKS HAD TO BE TAKEN
TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO COMPOSE
THEMSELVES.
JAMES RHOEDS COLLAPSED ON THE
FLOOR AS THE MOTHER WAS
SPEAKING.
HE GAVE UP HIS RIGHT TO A TRIAL
IN THE CASE.
FOR FOUR YEARS, DARLENE FARRA
WANTED THIS RESOLUTION, LIFE IN
PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE FOR JAMES
RHOEDS.
BUT THE PROSECUTOR PUSHED FOR
THE DEATH PENALTY IN THE CASE.
SHE HAS SPOKEN MULTIPLE TIMES
WITH THE PARENTS BEFORE COMING
TO THE DECISION TO ACCEPT A PLEA
DEAL AND TAKE THE DEATH PENALTY
OFF OF THE TABLE.
IT WAS A DECISION THAT WAS NOT
DIFFICULT TO MAKE AT ALL.
>> I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT
THIS RESOLUTION INSURES THE
SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC AND BRINGS
FINALITY FOR A CASE THAT WAS
LITIGATED FOR FOUR YEAR AND
PROVIDES CERTAINTY IN THE
OUTCOME AND IMPORTANTLY IT
RESPECTS THE WISHES OF DARLENE
FARRA.
>> Reporter: MELISSA NELSON
DOESN'T BELIEVE T CASE WILL
SET A PRECEDENT AS IT
REAREALATES TO THE WISHES OF THE
VICTIM'S FAMILIES.
EACH CASE WILL DETERMINE THE
CIRCUMSTANCES OF PLEA DEALS OR
GOING TRIAL.
ASHLEY HARDING WAS INSIDE OF THE
COURT TODAY AND HAS SPOKEN WITH
THE FAMILY OF SHELBY FARRA WHO
WAS VERY EMOTIONAL AFTER COURT
LET OUT, ASHLEY?
>> Reporter: YES, SHE WAS
EXTREMELY EMOTIONAL.
DAR LEN SAID OUTLOUD IT IS OVER.
THOSE ARE THE WORDS SHE WAITED
TO SAY OUT LOUD.
IT WAS A LONG AND PAINFUL
JOURNEY THAT SHE AND HER BOTH
SURVIVING CHILDREN ARE READY TO
BEGIN TO HEAL.
LOOK AT THE VIDEO FROM INSIDE OF
THE COURTROOM.
THESE MOMENTS WERE POWERFUL.
CLUTCHING HER DAUGHTER SHELBY'S
PHOTO.
DARLENE TOLD JAMES SHE FORGAVE
HIM FOR WHAT HE DO TO SHELL BOW
AND PRESENTED A BIRTHDAY CARD
WHICH RHOEDS SENT TO HER.
IN IT HE THANKED HER FOR
FIGHTING TO SAVE HIM FROM THE
DEATH PENALTY.
BUT DARLENE SAID THIS.
>> HOW DID I FEEL?
I CRY EVERY DAY.
I AM GOING TO BE HONEST WITH
YOU.
IT DIDN'T BOTH ARE ME.
HE CRIED.
I CRY EVERY DAY, EVERY NIGHT.
SOME DAYS, CRY ALL DAY.
>> Reporter: DAR LEN SAID HER
PUSH TO KEEP THE DEATH PENALTY
OFF OF THE TABLE WAS THE RIGHT
THING TO DO.
SHE PLANS TO MEET ONE-ON-ONE
WITH JAMES TO FURTHER DISCUSS
WHAT HAPPENED AND WE'LL HEAR
MORE FROM DAR LEN ON THE NEWS AT
5:00.
WE'LL HAVE ALL OF THIS POSTED ON
THE WEBSITE A NEWS4JAX.COM.
>> Bruce: WE HEARD FROM THE
BROTHER AND SISTER BEFORE.
DID THEY SAY ANYTHING IN COURT
TODAY?
>> Reporter: YOU KNOW WHAT,
BRUCE, THEY HAD VICTIM IMPACT
STATEMENTS THAT WERE READO
LOUD BY MELISSA, WHO IS THE
DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
ONE HAS A EIGHT MONTH OLD
DAUGHTER WHO WILL NEVER KNOW HER
AUNT SHELL BOW.
AND YOUNGER SISTER NICOLE IS
THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THE
MEMORIES THAT SHE IS MISSING
WITHOUT HER SISTER, PROM AND