( CNN ) -- A South Carolina mother on Friday asked for forgiveness and mercy , in the eyes of God and a judge , after pleading guilty to two counts of murder for killing her two toddler sons -- saying she hoped to someday reunite with them , `` even though it 's not on this side of eternity . '' `` I know what happened is ... unusual and it 's not my character , '' a tearful Shaquan Duley said in an Orangeburg court after entering her plea . `` I do n't know what went on with me . '' Authorities have said that on the night of August 15 , 2010 , Duley suffocated 2-year-old Devean Duley and 1-year-old Ja'Van Duley by putting her hand over their mouths in a room at the Trumps Inn just outside Orangeburg . She then put their bodies into their car seats , drove across town to a boat ramp , put the Chrysler sedan in neutral and sent it into the North Edisto River , they said . Duley 's then-5-year-old daughter was not with them at the time . Orangeburg County Sheriff Larry Williams said soon after the incident that authorities believed the deaths were `` a direct response '' to an argument between Duley and her mother , who lived together , the night before . `` I believe she was just fed up with her mother telling her she could n't take care of the children , '' Williams said . The next month , Helen Duley described her daughter as `` a very loving and kindhearted person '' and a `` good mother '' during a court hearing to consider whether the suspect should be granted the opportunity to post bail . `` My daughter has never been in trouble with the law until now , '' Helen Duley said . Speaking in court Friday , Duley did not delve much into her rationale beyond saying , `` I know I was depressed for a long time , and I hurt for a long time . '' She also did not deny any facts as presented by law enforcement , apologizing to her family and `` to this community , to this court ( and ) to this state for all that has happened . '' But , pointing to her lack of a criminal record , she insisted , `` I 'm not a bad person at all '' and `` I have a good heart . '' Duley also said she prays every day for the opportunity `` to keep ( her sons ' ) memory alive by sharing the love that I have for them . '' `` My heart hurts every single day because I do not have them anymore , '' she said , addressing Judge Ed Dickson . `` I miss them so much , your honor , and there 's nothing that can fill that void . '' First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe pointed out that there was no plea deal , as Duley pleaded guilty to the charges filed . `` I wanted to make sure Shaquan Duley was held accountable for the horrific death of these two boys and that she pled to murder as she was charged , '' Pascoe said . `` I was not willing to plead this case to any charge that carried less than 30 years in prison . '' Duley is expected to be sentenced during the week of March 26 , according to Pascoe . The judge could sentence her to 30 years -- assuming the two sentences are served concurrently -- to a maximum of life in prison without the possibility of parole , Pascoe said . Even with a less stringent sentence , Duley would get no credit for good behavior or a chance at early release on parole . A month after her arrest , Duley 's lawyer , Carl Grant , argued then that his client was suffering from mental illness . He called her `` a very quiet , reserved , caring and fun-loving person who ... was going through a very tough time , '' citing the deaths of two family members , a bout with bone cancer and the challenge of being a single mother . InSession 's Jessica Thill contributed to this report .
NEW : ` ` I do n't know what went on with me , '' a mother says after pleading guilty to murder . Authorities said Shaquan Duley killed her sons in a hotel room . She put their bodies in a car that she put in neutral , sending them into a river , they say . A judge says there was no plea bargain , and she will get 30 years to life in prison .