"Today, with the strength from Jesus Christ, I forgive Daniel Clay," Chelsea Bruck's mother, Leannda Bruck, said in court shortly before the man who was convicted of murdering her daughter was sentenced on Thursday.
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She also gave Clay a Bible as she delivered her statement to the court.
"I am leaving you with a Bible. Jesus came to heal our mess of a life and I hope you will let him in to help...heal your mess," said Bruck.
She said she forgives him, because if she didn't, all that has happened would "destroy" the rest of her life.
A jury found Clay guilty of first degree murder in May. Chelsea Bruck vanished after a Halloween party in 2014 and her body was found six months later.
"There has never been a day, or a moment that goes by that we don't think about her," said Bruck.
On Thursday, Clay was officially sentenced to life in prison.
"It's very clear to me, Mr. Clay -- you're a liar, a rapist and a killer," said Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Daniel White.
Clay has said he was sorry and that he didn't mean for any of this to happen.
"I made a mistake, there was nothing that I meant to happen, nothing I wanted to happen," said Clay.
