I have never seen a defendant facing sentencing behave the way Kelly Meining did today.

In May of 2006, the Clark County mother was arrested after she stabbed her 20-month-old son to death. Kelly Meining allegedly told detectives she did it because someone was going to kill the little boy. In the ensuing months, Meining's lawyers and family have pursued avenues to attempt an insanity defense. Meining has a history of mental problems including Post-Partum Psychosis (not to be confused with Post-Partum Depression which lawyers described to me as a more mild condition) and Bi-Polar disorder.

But Meining wasn't interested. She pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to 24 years behind bars. She'll be allowed visits with her other two children and will be released when she's in her mid-fifties.

When the judge set to pass judgement, Meining's husband Kris, her father, her mother and some friends all stood in her defense. They say the mental health system let her down and should have diagnosed her properly.

Often, defendants will decline to speak at sentencing . . . when they do talk, it is usually brief and simply to say either "I'm sorry" or "I'm innocent." Kelly Meining took a different option.

She stood before the judge and said "I murdered my son." Meining acknowledged her mental struggles but says that night in May of 2006, that little boy was in her care . . . he was her responsibility . . . and she must accept the consequences.

Meining was sentenced to 288 months behind bars, less 501 days credit time served.