(CNN) A former Texas nurse suspected of murdering dozens of young children decades ago was sentenced to life in prison Thursday after pleading guilty in San Antonio court to killing an 11-month-old boy in 1981.

The plea deal helped Genene Jones avoid a trial beginning next month for the murder of the child, Joshua Sawyer, CNN affiliate KSAT reported

Charges in the deaths of four other babies were dropped as part of the agreement.

"Ms. Jones, something has to be said for you taking the plea to life on this murder," District Judge Frank J. Castro told the former nurse, who appeared in court dressed in a blue jail uniform. "But it doesn't come close to what you did to these families and the tragedies that you caused. You took God's most precious gift -- babies, defenseless, innocent."

"But I truly believe," Castro said, "that your ultimate judgment is in the next life."

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