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Toronto woman Vanessa Collias<\/strong> was sentenced to life in prison after she pleaded guilty to killing her two sons in 2023 shortly after her husband died.<\/p>\n Collias, 27, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder during a virtual appearance at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on Monday, November 17, according to The Toronto Star<\/a><\/em>, CBC News<\/a><\/em> and Global News<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n Following her plea, she was sentenced to life in prison without a chance of parole for 18 years.<\/p>\n During her appearance, Collias issued an emotional statement about her decision to kill her 4-year-old son Dimitri Collias and 5-year-old son Yiannis Collias. \u201cI want to start off by apologizing to everyone my actions hurt and to the people I have let down,\u201d she said, per Global News<\/em>.<\/p>\n Zach Bryan Opens Up About Sobriety Struggle: \u2018I Really Need Some F****** Help\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cA part of me wonders why I never said I needed help. I stand in front of you a broken person. I wonder if I\u2019m damaged beyond repair because I feel life has shattered my hopes and dreams,\u201d she added. \u201cTo my babies, I love you more than anything. Thank you for showing me what true love is.\u201d<\/p>\n The Toronto Police Service<\/a> confirmed that Collias killed her sons on December 10, 2023. Authorities said Collias fell from her balcony and was found injured on the ground outside of her apartment building. Police then entered her home, where they found the children with \u201cno vital signs.\u201d The kids were taken to the hospital, where they were \u201cboth pronounced deceased.\u201d<\/p>\n Collias was initially charged with two counts of first-degree murder, though the charge was downgraded after forensic psychiatrist Dr. Sumeeta Chatterjee<\/strong> determined she was suffering from \u201can adjustment disorder.\u201d According to CBC<\/em>, Collias\u2019 72-year-old husband Costa Collias<\/strong> died of leukemia just days earlier on December 1, 2023.<\/p>\n While in court, Chatterjee said Collias was \u201cbroken\u201d and \u201cabsolutely alone\u201d after her husband died. She went on to note that \u201cthe only thing she wanted was for the family to be reunited.\u201d<\/p>\n While a motive was found in the killings, Collias was still held criminally responsible for her sons\u2019 deaths.<\/p>\n