A Romulus man who killed the parents of six kids in a drunk driving crash with a stolen car in Oakland County will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars, based on the lengthy prison sentence he’s been handed.

At a June 27 hearing in Oakland County Circuit Court, Judge David Cohen sentenced Angel Melendez-Ortiz, 37, to a minimum of 74 years incarceration — two 37-year sentences, one for each of the deaths, to be served back-to-back — for the 2024 wrong-way crash in Southfield that killed Ryan and Jennifer Ambrosio of Farmington Hills.

In explaining why he opted to order the sentences to be served consecutively, Cohen said “each and every human life is unique, valuable and irreplaceable…Ryan and Jennifer were each individuals that separately and together touched many lives. One sentence for the two second-degree homicides would be inappropriate in this instance.”

The judge also acknowledged the family’s grief.

According to prosecutors, Melendez-Ortiz was speeding in a stolen pickup truck — driving the wrong way on M-10 with the lights off while being pursued by Michigan State Police — when he crashed into the Ambrosios’ GMC Terrain. The Ambrosios were pronounced dead at the scene.

Melendez-Ortiz pleaded no contest to two counts of second-degree murder and the eight other felonies he was charged with: two counts each of operating while intoxicated causing death, first-degree fleeing and eluding, reckless driving causing death, and driving while license suspended/revoked. Along with the prison terms for the homicides, Cohen sentenced Melendez-Ortiz to 10-15 years behind bars for each of the other crimes, to be served concurrently.

Prior to the sentencing, Jennifer Ambrosio’s father, Laurel Dormitorio, told the court that he will “suffer from this terrible crime for the rest of my life.”

“The circumstances of this crime are so horrendous that no punishment is sufficient…the court needs to protect the society from this evil man,” Dormitorio said, tearfully.

In a statement read by defense attorney Jerry Sabbota, Melendez-Ortiz said he prays for forgiveness and mercy, and “for God’s help in healing the hearts of the victims’ family and friends.”

The statement, in part, continues: “I want you to know I sincerely apologize for my actions. Words can not express how much regret I feel. I truly apologize for the mistakes I made in my life. I want you to know this was not intended but I take full responsibility for my actions. I can’t ask for forgiveness for the simple fact that I can’t forgive myself.”