The Highland Falls man found guilty in the stabbing death of the girl he raised as his daughter was sentenced Wednesday to the maximum allowed under the law.

Christopher Rhodes, 28, was sentenced to 31 years to life nearly a year after he fatally stabbed 7-year-old Jerica Rhodes in the bathroom of the Sacred Heart of Jesus School. Rhodes was convicted in November of murder, weapons possession and for writing false documents after he tried to frame another inmate for Jerica?s murder.

Rhodes apologized for the murder and said he considered Jerica to be his daughter, even after DNA tests done following the murder showed he wasn?t her biological father. Lisa Colon, Jerica?s mother, says her daughter?s justice will never be served and says she will never understand why Jerica had to die.

Related stories Highland Falls man found guilty of murdering his daughter Jury gets case of Highland Falls man accused of killing daughter