VIERA, Fla. – A Florida mother will spend the rest of her life in prison after pleading guilty to killing her three young children earlier this year.
Circuit Judge James Earp on Thursday imposed a sentence of life without parole on 33-year-old Jessica McCarty of Palm Bay. Florida Today reports that her decision to plead guilty spared her a possible death penalty if convicted at trial.
In March, McCarty called police and told them she had killed 5-month-old Christopher, 6-year-old Phillip and 7-year-old Lacey at her Palm Bay home. She had also apparently attempted to kill herself.
Court and police records show McCarty had a history of legal trouble, painkiller addiction and mental health issues and had attempted suicide twice before.