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A Tarrant County jury sentenced Norma Jean Roberts to 80 years in the murder of her 11-year-old daughter.

Mrs. Roberts did not react to the verdict, announced just before noon Friday. The jury rejected claims that she was insane and convicted her on Thursday of suffocating Kelsey in their Keller home Aug. 5.

Mrs. Roberts and her estranged husband, Steve Roberts, were embroiled in custody and divorce issues at the time. Mr. Roberts and a friend found Mrs. Roberts unconscious with a gash to her wrist. Kelsey lay dead in a doorway. A message carved into the dining room table had read: "I can't live with the pain you have caused me & Kelsey. Now she'll always be happy and in one place."

After the verdict, Mr. Roberts said he was still in a state of disbelief.

"Kelsy was a beautiful, vibrant, happy girl and was looking forward to the sixth grade," he said. "Kelsey's murder changed my life. When Kelsey died, a part of me died. I feel an emptiness that can't be replaced."

Mr. Roberts talked about not being able to take Kelsey to father-daughter dances, not seeing her graduate from school or walking her down the aisle at her wedding.

"People who see me say I'm holding up well," he said. "But no one can understand the depth of pain and sorrow I feel. I cry every day."

E-mail debdennis@dallasnews.com