Arzel Ivery, man convicted of killing mother and her 2 young daughters, sentenced to life in prison

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Arzel Ivery, the man found guilty of killing a 26-year-old woman and her two young daughters, was sentenced to life behind bars on Friday, July 16.

The bodies of 26-year-old Amarah Banks, 5-year-old Zaniya Ivery and 4-year-old Camaria Banks were found in a garage near 47th and Burleigh in February of 2020.

The three had been reported missing earlier in the month and an Amber Alert had been issued.

Police found the bodies after interviewing Ivery -- Zaniya's father -- who had been arrested in Tennessee on a fugitive from justice warrant.

Ivery told police he and Banks got into a fight and he pushed her head into the wall.

He then told police he strangled her and did the same to the two children.

Ivery was convicted of three counts first-degree intentional homicide and will serve three concurrent life sentences.

A judge ruled he will not be eligible for extended supervision.

There was a sigh of relief in the courtroom after Ivery was sentenced. The victims' family says now the healing process begins.

"Arzel, we treated you like a son -- how dare you do this to us, how dare you rip out all of our hearts," said Valerie Banks, the victim's adopted mother. "You will reap what you sow in prison, I'm sure of that."

Ivery acknowledged the pain he's caused the Banks family and apologized to the court.

"I know what I did has affected the world. I know I can't change anything by what I say, but I am truly sorry and I regret everything I did," he said. 

The Banks family says they're not buying it.

"I feel like he could have made a better statement," said Banks' sister, Nyesha Smith. "HIs apology really didn't mean anything to me."

But now, their open wound can finally start to heal.

"Now my family can rest, but we won't be happy. Our hearts are still broken."

In addition to his prison sentence, the court ordered Ivery to undergo mental health and drug abuse therapy.