Bellefontaine mother pleads guilty, sentenced in death of 3 young sons

BELLFONTAINE — A Bellefontaine woman admitted killing her three sons and was sentenced to 37 years to life in prison after pleading guilty during a hearing Tuesday in Logan County Common Pleas Court.

Brittany Pilkington pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of murder as part of a plea deal.

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A recommended sentencing of 37 years to life was approved.

Pilkington was sentenced to 15 years to life for each count of murder and seven years for involuntary manslaughter.

Her defense team said that test results showed Pilkington’s brain has damage from severe abuse and childhood lead poisoning.

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Logan County Prosecutor Eric Stewart also addressed the court, saying he considered what her sons would want him to say for them.

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“I can’t even imagine what they’d want me to say,” he said.

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Pilkington was accused of smothering her three sons, Niall, Gavin and Noah, to death over a 13-month period.

Niall, 3 months, died in July 2014; Gavin, 4, died in April 2015; and Noah, 3 months, died in August 2015.