Vanessa Collias, 27, pleaded guilty to the murder of her young sons, Yiannis, 5, and Dimitri, 4, in December 2023 in Toronto. Her confession, presented at a virtual hearing, was accompanied by sobs and apologies, according to The Toronto Star. The crime occurred just nine days after the death of her husband, 72-year-old Costa Collias, who died from aggressive leukemia. According to court documents, the woman stated that she was “absolutely devastated, alone, and unable to imagine a life without him.” Collias recounted that she was exhausted after months of caring for her husband around the clock, watching him slowly deteriorate. After suddenly becoming a single mother, she said, "I broke down. I couldn't take it anymore." “I wanted them all to be together in Heaven.” During the psychiatric evaluation, the woman stated that she believed the only way to alleviate her pain was to end their lives so they could “be reunited in Heaven” with her husband. In her confession, she said she suffocated the children by covering their mouths and noses with her hands while singing "You Are My Sunshine." The bodies were found in front of a television set tuned to a children's program. Next to them were clothes selected for the funeral, a photograph of her recently deceased father, and a cross. Collias then jumped from her apartment balcony intending to take her own life. However, she survived the impact and was paralyzed from the waist down. A life sentence. Initially, the woman faced charges of first-degree murder. However, the charge was reduced to second-degree murder due to his mental state and the profound grief he was experiencing. The judge handed down a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for at least 18 years. During the hearing, Collias delivered an emotional message: "My babies, I love you more than anything. You will always be my favorite part of me." I am so grateful to have been your mother. The hardest part will be learning to be okay without you.”

The woman stated that she knew what she did was wrong,but asked for understanding that her intention—mistaken and devastating—was to “save” her children from their emotional suffering and bring them to their father.