Afton D. Ferris, 21, heard the sentence imposed by Judge Barry Vaughan Friday morning in Franklin County court.
Arguments presented by Franklin County State's Attorney Evan Owens and defense counsel Matt Vaughn and Jerry Crisel were heard before the sentence of natural life was handed down.
Victim impact statements were read by Amanda Brotherton, a cousin of Terri Ann Seibeck, 28, of West Frankfort, who was killed during a home invasion and armed robbery that occurred inside her home on Oct. 18, 2009.
She said questions of whether or not she was crying for help or how long she suffered would never be answered.
Brotherton called Seibeck a hard worker and a beautiful person who would offer her home to anyone who needed a place to stay.
She said her cousin suffered the loss of her mother at a very young age adding she left behind two young sons, two brothers, and a large family to mourn her loss.
She said the tears, heartache, anger and dispair are left adding Seibeck would never see the milestones of her sons' lives.
Brotherton said the family would never get to hug or kiss her or share giggles, laughter and phone calls.
She asked that justice be served, with the maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Brotherton said that would not bring Seibeck back.
Cindy Marlow, the mother of the other victim, Kandis R. Majors, 31, who shared the home with Seibeck sobbed as she read her victim's impact statement.
She said part of her is gone adding she at first was numb when she learned of the death of her daughter.
Marlow said she had gone into the house the two women shared to collect some of Majors' belongings while blood and chalk lines were still visible on the floor.
She said she tried to be strong because she felt she had to handle everything herself before finally permitting another person to finish cleaning out the house.
Marlow said she now regrets not clearing the residence. She said the videotape played during the trial replayed over and over in her mind.
Marlow said she is currently on anti-depressants because she could not control her crying and is experiencing stomach problems due to the stress and loss.
She said she was 18 when Majors was born adding the two spent a number of years together.
Marlow said she knew that her daughter had been having problems with addiction adding Majors and Seibeck had been working hard to change their lives.
She expressed pride at her daughter's accomplishments and said Majors had hoped to become an X-ray technician.
Vaughan said he was sorry that Ferris' life had been troubled adding that did not excuse her behavior or actions. The judge said he is aware of the cost of incarceration, adding the annual cost is $23,394.
He sentenced Ferris to natural life without the possibility of parole in the shooting deaths of Seibeck and Majors.
Enhanced sentences of 25 years to run concurrent with the natural life sentence were also imposed on two counts of armed robbery and one count of home invasion.
The judge said the videotape was more detailed to her involvement as he imposed the 25-year enhanced sentence on one count of home invasion of Seibeck.
Vaughan and Owens stated that previous Illinois Supreme Court rulings indicated that although two counts of home invasion were filed the defendant could only be sentenced on one of those counts.
Vaughn asked the judge to consider objections to the motions filed before the sentence was imposed.
The judge reviewed Ferris' appeal rights, saying she had 30 days to appeal.
Crisel said it was in the defendant's interest to file a motion for a new case adding he had ordered transcripts of the jury selection and trial proceedings.
The defense attorney said it would take until mid-August for the transcripts to be complete and asked for an extended period of time.
Vaughan granted a motion, giving defense attorneys until Oct. 14 to file their motion.
He said no fine would be imposed because Ferris would serve the rest of her life behind bars but ordered her to pay court costs.
