Gilday also received 17 years for three counts of attempted murder, burglary and criminal mischief. Those sentences will run concurrently with the life sentence. With four years of credit for time served, he could be eligible for parole in about 21 years.
Morgan’s father, former state lawmaker Wesley Morgan, says he plans to appeal the decision to run those sentences concurrently.
Before sentencing, several of Jordan Morgan’s family members gave emotional impact statements.
Her mother, Lisa Foster, called Gilday a cold-blooded killer and rejected his guilty-but-mentally-ill verdict. She said she does not forgive him, but "hopes he finds Christianity."
Wesley Morgan, who was shot multiple times and whose younger daughter was grazed by a bullet during the attack, described the lasting trauma from the 2022 event and said the family has lived with fear ever since. He added that Gilday not receiving the death penalty has shaken his faith in the justice system.
Gilday was convicted in May after his trial was moved from Madison County to Shelby County over concerns about a fair trial.
The charges stem from the February 2022 home invasion, when prosecutors say Gilday broke into the Morgan home looking for a bunker, killed 32-year-old Jordan and tried to kill the rest of the family. He was arrested six days later after a manhunt and later confessed to the crimes.
Gilday still faces charges in two other cases in Kentucky.
