NEW YORK (WPIX) -
A judge has sentenced the wife of a New York City fire marshal to a 25-year prison term for fatally shooting her husband while he was asleep in the couple's Staten Island home more than two years ago.
Janet Redmon Mercereau, 41, who was convicted by a Staten Island jury of second degree murder on May 21, received the maximum sentence Thursday. Prosecutors said Mercereau shot her husband, 38-year-old Douglas, three times in the head with his own FDNY-issued gun, just feet away from where his young daughters slept in their bedrooms in December 2007.
Prosecutors said Janet was angry with her husband and wanted to cash in on his pension and life insurance. They say she attempted to cover up the crime by quickly washing her clothes after the incident and placing the weapon inside a dishwasher.
Mercereau has maintained she had nothing to do with the murder and claims she did not hear any activity because she was sleeping with earplugs.
Janet Redmon Mercereau, 41, who was convicted by a Staten Island jury of second degree murder on May 21, received the maximum sentence Thursday. Prosecutors said Mercereau shot her husband, 38-year-old Douglas, three times in the head with his own FDNY-issued gun, just feet away from where his young daughters slept in their bedrooms in December 2007.
Prosecutors said Janet was angry with her husband and wanted to cash in on his pension and life insurance. They say she attempted to cover up the crime by quickly washing her clothes after the incident and placing the weapon inside a dishwasher.
Mercereau has maintained she had nothing to do with the murder and claims she did not hear any activity because she was sleeping with earplugs.
