The death penalty is off the table in a controversial Osceola County first-degree murder case.

• Emerita Mapp accused of stabbing death at Osceola motel
• Mapp accepted plea deal offered by State Attorney Aramis Ayala
  
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Emerita Mapp was sentenced to life in prison after accepting a plea deal Friday from State Attorney Aramis Ayala.

Mapp was charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing of Zackery Ganoe at a motel earlier this year.

Gov. Rick Scott had accused Ayala's office of negligence after missing a deadline to seek the death penalty in the case, as a death penalty review panel recommended.

Ultimately, the state attorney decided to honor the offer from before the deadline, saying she thought justice had been met with this sentence.

“The prosecutor felt it was in the best interest of justice to honor the offer, which was relayed prior to the 45 day deadline, of life in prison. As a result of this plea, Emerita Mapp will ultimately die in prison, and the family of the victims will not have to endure the long and difficult process associated with a death penalty trial," Ayala said in a released statement.

"We believe our goal of justice has been met.”

The Office of Gov. Rick Scott release a statement Friday in regards to the answers he asked from Ayala on her death penalty decision.

“The State Attorney has yet to reply to questions she received from our office this week," said Gov. Scott's press secretary. "The Governor will carefully review those answers in the consideration of how to exercise his authority to protect victims and their families.”

Check back for updates on this developing story.