FARMINGTON — KayLynn Spackman gave everything she had to provide a good life for her children, says her grandfather, Barney Alverson.

But it is precisely those children's lives that will be devoid of her presence because of her death in a merciless stabbing, Alverson said in court Tuesday.

"KayLynn will not be there," he said.

Spackman, 36, was stabbed to death in her garage at her Layton home on June 8, 2014, by her estranged husband, Joe Castillo, and in front of her teenage son, who tried to stop the attack.

Castillo, who had been married to Spackman for 20 years and had three children with her, was sentenced Tuesday to the mandatory minimum 15 years to life in prison for her murder. Castillo, 47, will be given credit for his time served in the Davis County Jail since his arrest in Tooele County two days after the murder.

Castillo pleaded guilty to the killing last month in 2nd District Court, about a year after being found competent to stand trial.

Alverson described Spackman as "a loving woman and a very loving mother" who worked as hard as she could to provide "the right kind of life" for her son, 17 at the time, and her daughters, who were then ages 8 and 4.

Spackman was a civilian employee at Hill Air Force Base, where she served as director of information protection for the 75th Air Base Wing.

Spackman's son has gone on to college, where he is set to graduate next month. Alverson lamented that Spackman will not be around to see the achievement that she helped her son reach. He said her daughters have already missed having their mother around for other milestones in a young person's life.

"KayLynn is not there to take them to dance," he said.

Castillo deserves to similarly miss out on his children's lives, Alverson told 2nd District Judge Glen Dawson.

"It's a right that he's earned," Alverson said. "That's how it should be."

'I'm here ... to take responsibility'

The atmosphere at Tuesday's sentencing was calm but tearful, with friends and family of both Castillo and Spackman present. Castillo himself was stoic, though his defense attorney, Bernard Allen, read a prepared apology on his behalf. Allen said Castillo preferred not to read it himself because he knew he would be overcome with emotion.

"To my ... beautiful children, I am deeply sorry for the loss of your mother," the prepared apology stated. "Just know she will always be with you. She loved you."

Castillo's apology also expressed remorse to several others, including "the community" in general and his own mother.

"I'm sorry, mom, that I failed you as a son," Allen read aloud on behalf of Castillo.

The apology also stated Castillo wanted to be held accountable for what he had done.

"I'm here in front of you to take responsibility," the prepared apology said.

Several friends and family members of Spackman submitted letters to the court in place of speaking at the sentencing. Those letters were not read aloud at the hearing Tuesday, though Dawson confirmed he had received them.

Allen told the judge he was struck by Castillo's willingness to face responsibility for the crime he had committed.

"Of all the clients I have had over many, many years, he's probably the most willing to take responsibility for what happened," Allen said.

'I lost control'

Castillo was so "distraught" over his and Spackman's separation, Allen said, that he initially tried to kill himself. That attempt failed and he was admitted to a hospital, where he was later visited by Spackman, Allen said.

In plea documents filed last month, Castillo stated he went to Spackman's home for the purpose of using a knife to kill himself in a trailer home parked there.

"I was discovered in the trailer and went into the garage with my son and his friend, and KayLynn appeared," Castillo said in the plea. "We argued heatedly, and I lost control and repeatedly stabbed my wife, causing her death."

Police reported that the couple's son tried to stop Castillo, then ran to a neighbor to summon help, at which point Castillo fled.

Spackman had filed a protective order against Castillo in the months leading up to her death. But Allen claimed the bulk of their marriage was more harmonious than some of Spackman's relatives have indicated in court. The husband and wife were both hardworking and loved each other, he said.

Alverson disagreed. He characterized Castillo as someone who carried himself like "a macho man," but was actually a coward.

"I submit that no 'man' can stab a defenseless woman to death," Alverson said.

Other charges stemming from the killing were dismissed last month in conjunction with his plea deal. Those charges included domestic violence in the presence of a child and child abuse, both third-degree felonies, and violation of a protective order, a class A misdemeanor.

Prosecutors have also agreed not to give any negative recommendations about Castillo to the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole regarding potential parole dates, according to court records.

Help for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting the YWCA's Women in Jeopardy program at 801-537-8600, or the Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-897-LINK (5465).

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