Woman gets 20 years, 12 suspended in deaths of four of her children

A Rayne woman whose four young children died in a fire while she was out clubbing will spend eight years in prison.
Shaqueta McDade, was sentenced by Judge Kristian Earles today to five years on each of four counts of negligent homicide and got five years on each count. Twelve years are suspended; the remaining eight will be served without benefit of parole or early release.
McDade pleaded no contest to the charges. The children, ages two to eight years, died in a late night mobile home fire.
The woman's fifth child was not at home at the time.
McDade was initially charged with four counts of second-degree murder, but a Louisiana Supreme Court ruling cause the charge to be changed.
In a Caddo Parish case, the court ruled a mother was incorrectly found guilty of second-degree murder because there was no evidence of intent to kill the child.
McDade was initially charged with four counts of second-degree murder, but a Louisiana Supreme Court ruling cause the charge to be changed.
In a Caddo Parish case, the court ruled a mother was incorrectly found guilty of second-degree murder because there was no evidence of intent to kill the child.