Mom Who Gave Disabled Daughter Fatal Overdose Sentenced To Four Years

(CBS) -- A Schaumburg woman was sentenced to four years in prison on Wednesday for the overdose death of her disabled adoptive daughter.

The judge also revoked the bond for Bonnie Liltz, and she was taken into custody.

"I am as mystified as everyone else as to why the sentence was what it was," said Liltz's attorney, Thomas Glasgow.

Lilitz entered court with the prosecution asking for four years probation and counseling for the killing of her disabled daughter.

Judge Joel Greenblatt felt four years behind bars was more appropriate.

"Life is precious," Greenblatt said. "Even a life that is profoundly disabled. Your daughter Courtney Liltz was innocent and vulnerable. Her life was fragile."

"The choice you made that morning, for whatever reason, was not an act of love. It was a crime. Only God can end a life out of love."

Despite Courtney's profound disabilities and Liltz's own 35-year battle with ovarian cancer, Liltz said she bathed, changed, fed, dressed, cared for and loved Courtney. She said every day she cared for Courtney was a privilege.

Liltz said she thought she was dying of intestinal failure tied to her battle with cancer when she poisoned Courtney early the morning of last May 27 and thought in her state of panic that the only place Courtney was safe was with her, in heaven.

She said her decision to place Courtney in 2012 in a state-run facility temporarily while she underwent cancer treatments confirmed her fears that Courtney would be shoved into a corner and forgotten.

She said she found Courtney covered with drool, in need of a change and ignored by staff at the facility.

She said Courtney was angry with her for quite a while after that, and clearly did not understand why Liltz had to be away from her.

"I went in the back with my client and I held her hand for 15 minutes," Glasgow said. "Words can't describe how devastated she is."