Life in Prison for Love Triangle Double Murderer

A man who in a jealous rage murdered his ex-girlfriend’s lover and that man’s mother will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Patrick Latko of Deptford Township, N.J. was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in the November 2011 murder of Ryan Patterson and his mother Diane Patterson inside their Hammonton, N.J. home. Latko showed little emotion as he was told that he must serve 126 years before he will be eligible for parole.

Latko, 34, was found guilty of both murders last month in Atlantic County court.

Prosecutors said that Latko was jealous of Ryan because he had been spending time with his ex-girlfriend Holly Patterson -- she was of no relation to the dead Pattersons.

Ryan, 29, was stabbed more than 20 times while his 64-year-old mother was stabbed more than 10 times, investigators say.

"He saw Ryan Patterson as an obstacle for reconciliation, so he murdered him," said Cary Shill, the Atlantic County assistant prosecutor.

During the trial, Holly told jurors she became intimate with Ryan months after refusing Latko's marriage proposal. Holly says Latko had become obsessively jealous and controlling in their relationship.

She also said Latko confronted her and Ryan in September of 2011, two months before the murders. "He said, 'I can't believe you would do this to me,'" said Holly.

Prosecutors also played the 911 call Patterson made the morning he was murdered. Prosecutors say the victim begged for his life and identified Latko in the recording, crying out "Pat, I didn't do anything, please."

Latko's lawyer, Kevin Moses, said his client maintains his innocence.

Ryan Patterson was well known in the area amateur motocross community.

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