Karen McCarron sentenced to 36 years in prison

Karen McCarron has been sentenced to 36 years in prison for killing, on May 13, 2006, her daughter, Katherine "Katie" McCarron, the Peoria Journal Star reports.

McCarron was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder for suffocating Katie, one count of obstructing justice and one count of concealment of a homicidal death. A request for a new trial was denied, and she will have to serve all of her sentence. According to her attorney, McCarron has not yet decided whether to appeal.

Katie McCarron was autistic and three-years-old when she died.

In a videotaped confession to police, McCarron told them she could no longer deal with the difficulties of her daughter's illness.

Before being sentenced, McCarron read from a handwritten statment, saying "I have no words for the loss of Katie. I am compelled to say I am sorry to my friends, family and to the State of Illinois,” the Pekin Times reports.

There is more about Katie McCarron's life here (at Autism Vox).

Additional details about Karen McCarron's sentencing are here and here.