Mom Gets Two Life Terms: Kelli Murphy Smuggles Two Young Children to Death with Pillow during Ugly Divorce and Custody Battle [VIDEO]

Reports confirm that a Colorado jury granted Kelli Murphy two life terms without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder after she was found guilty of smuggling her two young children to death. The Castle Rock, Colorado mother was involved in a fierce and ugly divorce and custody battle with her estranged husband Eric Murphy - Kelli was so disturbed (and supposedly "drugged up" on sleeping pills and vodka) that she ended up killing her two innocent children, nine-year-old son Liam and six-year-old daughter Madigan. According to prosecutors, the mother horrifyingly smothered her two young kids with a pillow to prevent losing them in the ongoing custody battle.

Kelli Murphy was sentenced to two consecutive life terms on Tuesday, Nov. 27 - ultimately convicted of two counts each of first-degree murder of a victim under the age of 12. Murphy was sentenced on the same day that would have been young Liam's tenth birthday. According to reports, Kelli murdered her children in a "blacked-out" rage the same day the Murphys were scheduled to appear in court for a custody hearing.

Eric Murphy's family released this touching statement after Kelli was sentenced to two life terms:

"This is a sad day for us. We would have preferred to be celebrating Liam's 11th birthday today. Instead, we would just like to offer our sincere thanks to everyone involved in this case.

Although nothing can make up for the loss of Liam and Madigan or fill the void that is left by their absence, we are thankful that this chapter is now over and we look to God to help lighten our hearts."

Kelli's defense lawyers attempted to argue in court that the mother-of-two was deeply disturbed by her ongoing divorce and custody troubles -she supposedly ingested sleeping pills and vodka and "blacked-out" the night of the murders. When she woke up, she supposedly didn't remember what had happened. The defense therefore argued that she was not fully guilty of the crime and should receive a lesser sentence - such arguments were rendered completely unsuccessful (especially when toxicology reports failed to show any signs of alcohol or sleeping pills in her system).

According to prosecutor Chris Gallo, Kelli's horrific act was totally bent on vengeance - "This is a woman bent on control... Controlling her kids, her husband and her divorce ... It was Kelli's way or no way."

The Colorado jury made their decision in just over an hour -Kelli Murphy will remain behind bars for the rest of her life.

Thoughts and condolences go out to Eric Murphy and family and friends during this time of tragic and unfortunate loss.