Tragedy struck some three years when two New Tampa children were brutally murdered by their mother.  The new Tampa mom, Julie Schenecker, was found guilty on Thursday of two counts of first-degree murder on her son and daughter.

Schenecker admitted to shooting and killing her 16-year-old daughter Caylx and 13-year-old son Beau last January. Her reasoning for committing the crime was the fear that the children would suffer similar mental problems that she had been dealing with for years.  The defendant noted that she did not want the children to, “go through the embarrassment of have a suicidal mother.” Shenecker continued to offer that the kids were always “mouthing off” and that she didn’t want them to have to go through the same pain when they get older.  Shenecker’s defense entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.

In the past two weeks, 12 jurors and 4 alternates have listened closely to the proceedings. They decided in just two hours that Schenecker, 53, was guilty of first-degree murder and received mandatory life in jail.

Before she was sentenced, she talked about her children.

“I know our children are in heaven. I want people to try to find comfort in believing as I do that they are in no pain and they are alive and enjoying everything and anything that heaven has to offer…Jesus is protecting them and keeping them safe until we get there.”

Schenecker’s ex-husband Col. Parker Schenecker soon responded.:  “While this decision doesn’t bring my children back,” he said, “it does give my family an opportunity to move forward and honor their memory with the important work that we’ve been doing with Calyx and Beau Schenecker Memorial Fund, and remembering how they lived.”