A man showed little remorse on Wednesday after being handed down a sentence of 224 years for killing a University of Colorado Colorado Springs professor nearly two years ago.

“Do I have to hear this?” Ceasar Wilson, 54, was heard asking his lawyers during his sentence hearing inside an El Paso County courtroom. Found guilty by a jury of killing Visual and Performing Arts professor Haleh Abghari after sneaking into her home through her garage during a robbery gone wrong situation in August 2024, an attorney prosecuting the case said Wilson demonstrated a “total” disregard for human life throughout his proceedings.

It was revealed in court that, during a recent recorded phone call with his mother while in prison, Wilson allegedly said he’d bring her back to life and kill her again because he was treated unfairly during the court proceedings.

The revelation, introduced to the court by attorney Melissa Bollig of the District Attorney’s Office, immediately set the tone for the hearing. In addition to the alleged comments, Bollig told the court Wilson’s failure to appear in court three times, one of which caused his sentence hearing to be rescheduled, made it abundantly clear that Wilson had a complete lack of respect for the victims and judicial system.

Tiana Longmire, a past UCCS student of Abghari’s, called Wilson’s alleged comments “mind-boggling,” saying it showed her what “true evil” looked like. 

Wilson’s attorneys, Beau Worthington and Michael Stuzynski, offered little response to the court about the phone call, only saying the defendant has plans to appeal any decision made. The attorneys declined to provide any further comments after the hearing.

Wilson’s sentencing follows the jury’s conclusion that he should face a harsher punishment as a habitual offender who has served most of his adult life in prison. He previously had been convicted of more than a dozen felonies, including armed burglaries, dating back to the ’90s.

Haleh Abghari: Sister, musician and mentor

When the day came to see Haleh Abghari’s killer put behind bars, her sister, Niloofar Abghari, told The Gazette that despite a loss that could never be erased, she was pleased with the sentencing term.

Niloofar Abghari also thanked those involved in bringing the case to an end, which helped give family, friends and herself closure and justice — and prevents Wilson from harming others.

Natives of Iran, the two fled the country during the Iran-Iraq war in the ’80s and had been through thick and thin together, Abghari said.

Described as the most important person in her world, Abghari said her sister was “selfless to a fault,” saying she was the type of person to donate to charities when she didn’t have money herself. 

The night before her sister was killed, the two were talking about buying a duplex and living together in California. The night reflected one of many, as Abghari’s sister was the person she shared everything with.

Never did Abghari think it would be the last time she would see her sister alive.

“Every night when I sleep, I think about what happened to her,” Abghari said. “There’s no joy anymore. It’s just survival.”

The only good that’s come out of her sister’s murder was community, she said.

Dozens of students, friends and faculty sent letters to the court. El Paso County Judge Laura Findorff said the letters made it clear Haleh Abghari was a light that touched many throughout the community.

Longmire said she studied under Haleh Abghari for seven years, almost immediately dropping out after she learned her mentor was murdered.

She and another former student, Mackenzie Summers, told The Gazette they will always remember their professor’s humor and care for others.

Her former professor, Summers said, brought her out of her shell and taught her to be confident in her singing voice.

She was also a shoulder to cry on during times of tragedy.

Summers said Haleh Abghari was one of the first people who called her when it was learned one of her friends was the victim of a double homicide inside a UCCS dorm room earlier in 2024. She was one of the few professors to advocate on behalf of the students’ safety following the news.

“She was a little ball of fire who will never die because of the impacts she made,” Summers said.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story misidentified Ceasar Wilson.