A man from southeastern Minnesota has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to murdering his wife and son and trying to kill his two daughters, who survived because the young boy intervened.

Thirty-five-year-old Ismael Bugarin of Dodge Center changed his plea to guilty Tuesday to spare his daughters the trauma of a trial. Because one charge was premeditated first-degree murder, Bugarin was immediately sentenced to life in prison without chance of parole.

He’ll also serve 61 years on three other charges concurrent with the life sentence. Other charges were dropped.

Authorities say Bugarin shot and stabbed his wife, Teresa, in their home in November 2008 after she told him she wanted a divorce. Bugarin’s 12-year-old son, Nick, was stabbed to death defending his mother and sisters.