Charlotte County mom attempts to find peace after man is convicted of killing daughter

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – A Charlotte County mom says she’s found some peace 14 years after her daughter was killed.

On Wednesday, a jury convicted 46-year-old Phillip Barr in the murder of 19-year-old Tara Sidarovich back in 2001. Barr will now spend the rest of his life in prison.

“We’ll do what we have to do, we’ll do what we have to do for Tara,” said Sharon McPhillips, Sidarovich’s mom.

In court Wednesday, Sidarovich’s family heard the words they’ve been waiting to hear for more than a decade.

“This has impacted our life for the past 14 years in a way that I can’t even begin to describe, of every night of wakening, and every night of closing my eyes. We just miss her so much and we are just very happy justice has been served,” said McPhillips.

The Charlotte County detectives who spent years trying to crack the case tell WINK News they’re happy with the jury’s decision.

“We all feel great, long time coming. Jury got it right, we feel they got it right,” said Detective Mike Gandy. “We love this family. I think they love us, maybe a little better today than before. They will always be in our hearts.”

The pain is not over for Sidarovich’s family just yet as another suspect in the teen’s death, David McMannis, awaits trial.

“I’m ready. You know, you don’t come with a handbook for anything like this and I’m just going to go into it and fight,” said McPhillips.