Big soft shell mature female

[bowman316]

I caught a soft shell mature female today in my trap.  She was big, about 6 inches.  I actually killed her when i flipped the trap upside down, to get her into the upper chamber, so I could get her out.  I was going to release her, and i did, but she was dead by then. 

Was this female just done with her sponge stage?  or was that ages ago, and she was just molting again?  I used to keep females, but now I am throwing them back, since come can still release eggs.