Taylor Schabusiness (BCSO)
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Work continues to schedule another competency exam for Taylor Schabusiness, a process which could delay her scheduled March 6 trial for allegedly killing and decapitating a man.
Schabusiness, 25, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse and third-degree sexual assault for allegedly attacking Shad Thyrion on Feb. 23. She has pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
Competency refers to the defendant’s ability to understand the court proceedings and assist in their own defense.
Schabusiness was found competent to stand trial in May. The issue was raised again this fall, when she was again found competent in a Nov. 18 report. A third, related psychiatric exam supported that ruling.
At a hearing last month, defense attorney Quinn Jolly asked the court for another exam, to be performed by a psychiatrist from a different office. Judge Thomas Walsh denied that motion, saying he was satisfied Schabusiness is competent, given the three reports. But Judge Walsh later reconsidered, and said the defense could hire a psychiatrist to perform another review.
In court Friday, Jolly outlined a couple of options for the examination, one which would result in a contested competency hearing in early February — which would put the March 6 trial date in jeopardy.
Judge Walsh encouraged him to pursue another, quicker option — but one currently with some logistical hurdles — and Jolly agreed. The parties return to court next Thursday for an update.
According to the criminal complaint, police were called to a residence on Stony Brook Lane early in the morning of Feb. 23. There, police found a severed head inside a bucket in the basement.
Schabusiness said she and the victim were using drugs, including meth, and engaging in sexual play, when the man was strangled. She then sexually abused him, dismembered the body and placed body parts in various locations in the home and a vehicle, the criminal complaint states.
“Schabusiness made the comment that at one point, she did get paranoid and lazy and that she thought it was the ‘dope’ that was making her paranoid,” the complaint states.
Police say they took Schabusiness into custody later on Feb. 23 at an Eastman Avenue residence.
Schabusiness removed an electronic monitoring bracelet hours before the murder, according to the sheriff’s department. A warrant was issued for her arrest, but she was not located before allegedly killing Thyrion.
She is being held on a $2 million cash bond.
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