A Philadelphia mother has been convicted of third-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in the death of her 1-year-old twins in Tacony in 2012.
Prosecutors alleged that 42-year-old Stacey Newkirk poisoned Adam and Eve in a rage in May 2012 after finding out that her husband was having an affair.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that prosecutors said at Monday's bench trial that Newkirk left notes detailing the crimes near the children's bodies and told police she gave the infants sleeping pills and then drowned one and smothered the other.
"I hope this makes you feel 1/1,000th of the pain I feel," read a note addressed to Newkirk’s husband, prosecutor Peter Lim said.
Defense attorneys who said their client was “extraordinarily remorseful” didn't contest the evidence but sought a conviction of third-degree rather than first-degree murder.
Newkirk, who cried quietly after she was sentenced, was acquitted of trying to kill her 4-year-old daughter.