The grandfather of a Willacy County teen who died in 2021 told the man convicted in his death how he was affected by it.

“I kept saying to myself, ‘how could a person do this horrible act to a defenseless, loving child,” Fred Harrison said.

Fred Harrison was identified as the grandfather of Jesse Harrison Jr., a 13-year-old boy who died in January 2021 after he was hospitalized with breathing complications, according to previous reports.

On Tuesday, Ruben Gonzalez was convicted of the lesser charge of criminal negligent homicide, and of one count of injury to a child by failing to provide adequate nutrition.

On Wednesday, Gonzalez was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

READ MORE: Ruben Gonzalez sentenced to 30 years in death of Willacy County teen

While Fred Harrison spoke during the Wednesday victim impact statements portion of the sentencing phase, Gonzalez was seen looking away and smiling at times.

A Willacy County crime victim’s advocate spoke on behalf of Jesse Harrison Jr.’s younger brother during the victim impact statement portion to say, “I miss you more than anybody knows, love and miss you brother, every day.”

Prior to his death, Jesse Harrison Jr. was hospitalized after his mother — Sabrina Loredo — called 911 over breathing complications. The teen went into cardiac arrest shortly afterward.

A forensic nurse examined the teen at the hospital and reported he had multiple bruises and scars all over his body.

Willacy County investigators arrested Loredo, the boy’s grandmother — Antonia Villarreal Gonzalez, and Ruben Gonzalez.

Ruben Gonzalez was identified in court as the boyfriend of Antonia Villarreal Gonzalez.

The trio were originally charged with murder and four counts of injury to a child. The indictments against the trio said the boy was beaten and starved before he died. 

RELATED STORY: Ruben Gonzalez found guilty of lesser charge in death of Willacy County teen

During the weeklong trial, Loredo and Antonia Villarreal Gonzalez were called to testify. Both invoked their Fifth Amendment right to avoid answering questions if they fear those answers could incriminate them.

Willacy County Assistant District Attorney Lucia Regalado spoke to Channel 5 News after the sentencing, and said she respects the jury’s decision 

“Certainly the evidence and the type of things that we had to share with the public were pretty heavy,” Regalado said.

Ruben Gonzalez's criminal defense attorney, Nat Perez, says he's pleased with the outcome. 

“The truth is, we don’t know what all the dynamics were in the home,” Perez said.

Fred Harrison said Ruben Gonzalez now has to answer to a higher power than the court.

“I believe you deserve everything that is coming to you, and I hope you find Christ,” Fred Harrison told Ruben Gonzalez during his victim impact statement. “May God have mercy on your soul.”

Perez said he plans to appeal this case. 

Loredo and Antonia Villarreal Gonzalez are set to go to trial in October on the same charges Ruben Gonzalez faced in court.

Family and friends of Jesse Harrison Jr. say they want him remembered as a boy who was sweet, and loved school and superheroes