Cape Coral woman who fatally stabbed mother while putting away dishes given 15-year prison sentence
A Cape Coral woman who fatally stabbed her mother while they were putting away dishes is headed to prison for 15 years after she pleaded no contest in Lee County court.
Mariya Lynn Kelly, 22, who faced charges of manslaughter with a weapon, was adjudicated guilty by Judge Robert J. Branning and given an 180-month sentence on Friday. She was credited with 647 days served in Lee County Jail.
Cape Coral police responded June 17, 2020, to the 2500 block of SW Embers Terrace at 10:04 a.m. for a stabbing, according to a news release.
A police news release identified the suspect as Kelly and said she had fatally stabbed her mother.
Previously: Cape Coral woman accused of fatally stabbing mother remains in Lee County Jail on $250,000 bond
Other crime news: Fort Myers man faces homicide charges in alleged stabbing on Cedar Hammock Court
More: Cape Coral man sentenced to 22 months in prison for stabbing, car theft
A Cape Coral police report said Kelly told police she was involved in a verbal argument with a victim, later named as her mother by police, in the kitchen.
Kelly was holding a knife that was among dishes she was putting away. The report said she stabbed her mother with the knife one time in the chest after the victim hit her on the head during an argument.
Also in the home at the time of the stabbing were the victim's other two children and Kelly's toddler.
The Cape Coral police report said Kelly was pacing in the front yard when police arrived.
Court documents included a police interview with Kelly who told investigators there had been tension in the home for a few days including an argument between mother and daughter.
Prior to the stabbing that morning, Kelly told police, she and her mother were again arguing and that she was holding a knife while putting dishes away.
She said she told her mother "no" when her mother told her to put the knife down and then the woman started to hit her on the head and Kelly "jabbed" her one time in the chest with the knife.
Police said that when they told her her mother had died Kelly seemed in shock, began to cry and told police she didn't intend to hurt her mother, didn't mean for this to happen or her mother to die.
Connect with breaking news reporter Michael Braun: MichaelBraunNP (Facebook), @MichaelBraunNP (Twitter) or mbraun@news-press.com.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Woman who stabbed her mom at Cape Coral home gets 15-years in prison
