An Indiana County man sobbed as he pleaded guilty to murdering his estranged wife and two young daughters, and he was immediately sentenced to three consecutive life prison terms.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports 41-year-old Lewis Beatty was crying as he told an Indiana County judge Friday, "This should've never happened. I'm very, very remorseful, and I'm sorry."

District Attorney Patrick Dougherty had previously said he would pursue the death penalty in the June 1 killings, then surprisingly announced earlier this week that Beatty would plead guilty.

Beatty confessed to choking and slashing the throat of 33-year-old Christine Beatty after similarly killing their daughters, 6-year-old Sara Beatty and 11-year-old Amanda Beatty.

Police said Lewis Beatty also set fire to both his own house and his ex-wife's house.

Beatty had also been charged with arson and animal cruelty for allegedly burning his home, where his daughters were killed, and his estranged wife's residence after fatally shooting the family's pet pony, goat and dog.