Debbie Kimbrough raised her handcuffed hands to wave to family members Friday as Colbert County sheriff's deputies led her out of the courtroom to begin serving a 20-year prison sentence for killing her husband, Howard "Sonny" Kimbrough, last winter.

Kimbrough, 49, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received her sentence during a seven-minute hearing before Colbert Circuit Court Judge Hal Hughston.

As she was leaving the courtroom, Kimbrough appeared to mouth, "I love you," to members of her family who attended the hearing.

Several people in the courtroom began to cry as the hearing concluded.

Debbie Kimbrough was originally charged with murder for shooting her 63-year-old husband in the back with a large-caliber handgun as he slept at their home in the Barton community Dec. 13. She was arrested shortly after the shooting and has remained in jail.

Colbert District Attorney Bryce Graham Jr. said the plea agreement was offered at the request of Howard Kimbrough's family.

"We were prepared to take this case to trial, but the family made it very clear they wanted her to be punished for what she did, but did not want to go through a murder trial," Graham said. "They wanted to put this bad situation behind them. I would have never agreed to the plea without their approval."

The 20-year prison sentence is the maximum allowed for manslaughter.

During the hearing, Graham told Hughston that if the case had gone to trial, he expected the evidence would show Debbie Kimbrough intentionally caused the death of her husband and that the shooting occurred during a sudden heat of passion.

After Debbie Kimmrough's arrest, Colbert Sheriff Ronnie May said an investigation by his office found that she had been depressed before the shooting.

She had previously pleaded innocent and innocent by reason of mental defect or disease.

Those pleas were withdrawn as part of Friday's plea agreement.

After Friday's hearing, defense attorney Tim Case, of Florence, said Debbie Kimbrough is pleased with the outcome.

Case said his client is remorseful for her husband's death.

"It was a tragic end to his life," Case said. "Debbie is thankful she was able to plead guilty to manslaughter."

During the hearing, Case told Hughston that he met with his client often as the plea agreement was being negotiated and explained her options for pleading guilty or going to trial.

Debbie Kimbrough told Hughston that she was pleased with how Case had handled her case, he said.

If convicted of murder, she could have been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

Graham said it will likely be at least six years before Debbie Kimbrough is considered for parole. He said the Kimbrough family will be allowed to oppose her released on parole if they wish.

"She is going to be in the state penitentiary for a long time," Graham said.

The Kimbroughs were well known throughout the Shoals for the Christmas decorations at the home on Red Rock Road. Sonny Kimbrough would dress as Santa Claus and give gifts to children who came to see the decorations.

Dennis Sherer can be reached at 740-5746 or dennis.sherer@timesdaily.com.