61 years for Illinois woman in sledgehammer attack

WAUKEGAN, Ill. (AP) — A Lake County judge has sentenced a Mundelein woman to 61 years in prison for trying to beat her ex-husband and his new wife to death with a two-pound sledgehammer.

Judge John Phillips sentenced 56-year-old Sandra Rogers on Thursday. A jury convicted her last month after only three hours of deliberations for the 2003 attack in the Chicago suburb of Lincolnshire. The judge said it is "unbelievable and miraculous" that the victims survived.

Rick Rogers, his wife and their daughter were at the sentencing. They said in a statement that they are "thankful that justice has finally been served."

Rogers said she was innocent and her defense attorney argued there was no physical evidence linking Rogers to the crime.