East Troy mother sentenced to 1 year in jail after infant twins drowned in bath tub
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Melissa McCrady reports Video by tmj4.com
video
ELKHORN- An East Troy woman is going to jail for over one year following the deaths of her 11-month-old twins.
The twins drowned in a bathtub while Melody Butt was sleeping.
"I know I'm responsible and I'm sorry," said Butt.
She spoke for the first time in a Walworth County courtroom Tuesday about that September day when her twin 11-month-olds drowned.
"Two people died and I know nobody can feel that more than a mother of a child but that still does not excuse her," said prosecutor Phillip Koss.
The prosecutor fought for jail time -- arguing this was a preventable death.
Butt's defense attorney asked the judge for probation.
And Butt, pleaded for forgiveness.
"Your honor my pain will never heal and I will do anything to reverse what has happened and be holding my babies," said Butt.
The 26-year-old has three other children and according to her attorney, Butt has already cleaned up what investigators describe as deplorable conditions in her home.
"There was food on the stove, there was bottles of milk curdled on the floor where kids were crawling there were dirty diapers laying around," described Koss.
Judge David Reddy sentenced Butt to one year in jail and 14 years probation.
"The grieving will continue. The grieving will never end but we were relieved with the decision of the court," said defense attorney Joseph Klaff.
Butt will begin serving her one year sentence on Tuesday.
Butt was granted work release and child care privileges so she can help take care of her other two children during her jail term.
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