Photo: Romero Family GoFundMe
The Georgia mother who fatally stabbed her husband and four of her children nearly two years ago pleaded guilty on Tuesday to seven criminal counts, and subsequently received five life sentences from a judge.
A spokeswoman for the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office tells PEOPLE Isabel Martinez, 35, pleaded guilty but mentally ill to five counts of murder on Tuesday.
Martinez also entered guilty pleas to one count of aggravated assault and one count of cruelty to children for stabbing a fifth child — the lone survivor from the July 2017 attack.
Martinez admitted in court to fatally stabbing her husband, Martin Romero, 33, and four of their children: Isabela Martinez, 10; Dacota Romero, 7; Dillan Romero, 4; and 2-year-old Axel Romero.
She also injured another daughter, Diana Romero, in the vicious knife attack.
John Bazemore/AP
Diana Romero, who was 9 at the time of the incident, told child welfare workers Martinez started stabbing the children first as they slept inside the family’s Loganville home.
Martin Romero tried to stop her and Martinez stabbed him.
Diana Romero said that Martinez was not crying or screaming as she stabbed her family members to death, and at one point during the attack, told her she would be “going to the sky to see Jesus.”
Diana Romero, the sole survivor.GoFundMe
Martinez cut herself before calling 911 to report the killings.
Martinez initially confessed to the killings, according to court documents.
She later changed her story, telling authorities a “family friend” committed the murders.
Prosecutors declined to seek the death penalty against Martinez, citing her mental state.
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Martinez will become parole eligible in 30 years.
In addition to the five life sentences, the judge sentenced her to another 21 years.
source: people.com
