PASADENA (KGTV and WIRE REPORTS) -- A Los Angeles-area father who admitted to killing his 5-year-old son has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison Wednesday.
Aramazd Andressian Sr., 35, pleaded guilty earlier this month to first-degree murder in the death of his son, Aramazd Andressian Jr.
Several of the child's family members, including mother Ana Estevez, delivered emotional statements in court before Andressian Sr.'s sentence was read.
Prosecutors said Andressian killed his son amid a bitter custody battle with his estranged wife, Ana Estevez.
"I wish that I was taken instead of my son, so that my sweet baby can live," Estevez cried while reading a statement in court before Andressian Sr. was sentenced.
"I will never see my son fall in love and marry the woman of his dreams. He was my greatest happiness and is now my greatest sadness."
Andressian Jr. disappeared on April 21 following a trip to Disneyland with his father.
Nearly a week after the boy was reported missing, Andressian released a statement through his attorney. After having breakfast, he said, the boy wanted to go to the park before meeting his mom, CNN affiliate KCBS reported.
"I was at the park with my son, and then I found myself waking up in Huntington Memorial Hospital hours later," the statement said. "I can only speculate that I must have been attacked in the park, given my unresponsive state and subsequent physical condition."
