MADISONVILLE (WATE) – A Monroe County judge gave the maximum sentence, 50 years, to Martha McClancy Friday in the 2006 death of her husband Robert McClancy.

Robert McClancy was found dead in his Tellico Plains home but it wasn’t until 2013 that charges were filed against Martha McClancy and her new husband Charles Kaczymarczyk. They were accused of conspiring to make it look like a suicide. The judge said Friday he’d give Martha McClancy even more time if he could because the crime was so heinous.

Friends and family filled the courtroom showing support for the victim. Among those were some of his former coworkers from a sheriff’s office in Florida where he worked as a detective before moving to Tennessee.

“Back at the sheriff’s office we’ve never forgotten him and we’re here to support him,” said Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Dawn Atkinson .

The judge sentenced Martha McClancy to the maximum time for attempted first degree murder and conspiracy to commit first degree murder.

“This court has never seen such a heinous crime inflicted upon someone,” said Judge Andrew Freiburg.

After Robert McClancy’s 2006 murder, Charles Kaczmarczyk told investigators in 2012 he and Martha McClancy conspired to make the murder look like a suicide by overdose. Kaczmarczyk was Robert McClancy’s friend then began a relationship with his wife. The judge says the murder was torture.

“The slow poisoning and slipping of life from an individual is exceptionally heinous,” said Judge Freiburg.

The judge says evidence showed McClancy was crushing prescription medication into her husband’s food. When he died, the scene was staged to look like a suicide so she and Kaczmarczyk could get her husband’s VA benefits.

“A knife or a gun would have been more merciful, but of course that couldn’t have been accomplished by Ms. McClancy because if it would have, she wouldn’t have gained her money,” said Judge Freiburg.

The judge says just six days after the murder she was with her lover Kaczmarczyk at a concert. The two later married.

“I find that she was unquestionably the leader in the commission of this criminal conspiracy,” said Judge Freiburg.

McClancy has to serve 30 percent of the 50-year sentence before being eligible for parole. Her attorney says he will be filing a motion for a new trial.

Kaczmarczyk pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in 2013 for the death of Robert McClancy. He was sentenced to 25 years.

McClancy and Kaczymarcyk also pleaded guilty in 2012 to federal charges of trying to defraud the government of social security and veterans benefits. Their scheme included making fake claims about Kaczmarczyk’s military service including service in Special Forces combat missions and a number of bogus military honors.

The family of victim Robert McClancy said in a statement: “On behalf of the friends and family of Bob McClancy we would like to show our profound gratitude to all of the investigators and prosecutors that worked tirelessly in the pursuit of justice for the murder of Robert J. McClancy. We feel that the truth has been brought to light and that justice was truly served. Bob will forever be in the hearts of all who knew him.”

Reporter Stephanie Beecken talked with the defense attorney in the case, as well as friends of Robert McClancy on WATE 6 On Your Side News at 6:00 p.m.