United States (New York) - A woman who shot her New York City fire marshal husband to death while he slept in their bed has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Forty-year-old high school teacher Janet Redmond-Mercereau (mer-ser-OH') got the maximum sentence Thursday.

A Staten Island jury in May convicted her of second-degree murder.

Thirty-eight-year-old Douglas Mercereau was found dead in their home in December 2007. The 12-year Fire Department of New York veteran had been shot three times in the head.

His wife told investigators she never heard the gunshots. She said she was wearing earplugs and sleeping in another room with one of their children, who was sick.

The couple were married 12 years and had three daughters.

Written by Associated Press