Houston’s mother, who said the 4-year-old is “in heaven now” after fatally stabbing her own daughter, has been sentenced to 40 years, the district attorney says.

HOUSTON A Houston woman has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty last week to murder in stabbing her 4-year-old daughterHarris County District Attorney Kim Ogg made the announcement on Tuesday.

“It’s almost inconceivable that a mother would brutally kill her own child,” Ogg said. “This case has been looked into by our mental health experts to make sure justice is done, and we hope this outcome brings some light to little Frederica Allen’s father, siblings, and other family members.”

Laquita Lewis, 39, pleaded guilty to murder ahead of her trial on Friday in exchange for 40 years in prison. She will have to serve at least half of that time before she becomes eligible for parole. She is also prohibited from appealing the guilty verdict or sentence.

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Lewis, a mother of four, fatally stabbed her daughter to death in a northwest Harris County apartment in the 5600 block of Timber Creek on June 18, 2017. She then called the child’s father to tell him that the girl was now in heaven. He called law enforcement and went home to find the girl in a pool of her own blood. Lewis also had three sons with another man from a previous relationship. These children were not at home at the time of the attack.

Assistant District Attorney Jeff Matovich, the mental health director who handled the case, thanked the Harris County Sheriff’s Office for investigating and said the plea agreement means Lewis’s sons and the rest of her family won’t have to testify in court. case.

“It was important to Fredrika’s father that Lakita Lewis take responsibility for what she did,” Matovic said. “No one can get his daughter back, but he was satisfied with this decision, especially the fact that Lewis cannot appeal.”