The Latest: Mother gets 30 to 80 years in bathtub drownings

PITTSBURGH – The Latest on the sentencing of a Pennsylvania woman convicted of drowning her two youngest sons in their bathtub: (all times local):

3:05 p.m.

A Pennsylvania woman who drowned her two youngest sons in their bathtub because she felt that would enable her to be a better mother to their older brother has been sentenced to 30 to 80 years in prison.

An Allegheny County judge in March found 44-year-old Laurel Schlemmer guilty but mentally ill of third-degree murder after hearing three days of testimony and arguments.

The judge called the sentence imposed Wednesday a de-facto life term given the defendant’s age.

The McCandless woman’s attorney had argued that her diminished mental capacity kept her from forming the intent to kill her sons, 6-year-old Daniel and 3-year-old Luke.

Schlemmer has told police that she killed the boys in April 2014 so she could be a better mother to their elder brother, who was 7 at the time.

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8 a.m.

A Pennsylvania woman who drowned her two youngest sons in their bathtub because she felt that would enable her to be a better mother to their older brother faces sentencing.

An Allegheny County judge in March found 44-year-old Laurel Schlemmer guilty but mentally ill of third-degree murder after hearing three days of testimony and arguments.

She faces up to 40 years in prison per child when she is sentenced Wednesday.

The McCandless woman’s attorney had argued her diminished mental capacity kept her from forming the intent to kill her sons, 6-year-old Daniel and 3-year-old Luke, in April 2014.

Schlemmer has told police she killed the boys so she could be a better mother to their elder brother, who was 7 at the time.