Woman, 56, gets life for 2012 murder

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office booking photo of Maria Bratton

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 56-year-old Jacksonville woman was recently sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a 57-year-old man.

Maria Bratton was found guilty last month on a charge of second-degree murder in the killing of Cecil Scroggie.

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In June 2012, Bratton ran to a neighbor's house to get help after she shot and killed Scroggie. The couple was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the shooting.

When police arrived, Bratton told officers that she shot the victim in self-defense. Bratton then began changing and adding things to her story, which did not match physical evidence at the scene, prosecutors said.

They said the evidence showed Bratton had beaten, shot and strangled the victim.