Taylor Schabusiness appears in Brown County court Jan. 6, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The attorney for a woman accused in a murder and dismemberment case is asking for a new mental competency evaluation.
Taylor Schabusiness, 25, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse and third-degree sexual assault for allegedly attacking Shad Thyrion last year. She has pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. She is scheduled to stand trial July 21.
Attorney Christopher Froelich filed the request for the new evaluation Thursday afternoon. He argues that a competency exam from November is no longer current.
Among the other reasons cited in the motion:
- “The defendant attempted to hit her head on the table during 1 jail conference.”
- “The defendant has looked away at the kiosk on the wall numerous times staring at in in a bizarre manner on several occasions as if she is seeing something.”
- “The defendant has been unable to answer questions posed to her by defense counsel on occasion.”
- “The defense counsel has noted odd responses to questions posed to the defendant.”
- “The defense counsel has noted inappropriate smiling during some conferences which seemed unusual related to topics discussed.”
- “The defense counsel has noted that the defendant loses her train of thought or becomes confused on occasion during conferences.”
The motion also states, “the defense counsel has concerns that the defendant may have been suffering from a mental breakdown or other mental defect before the alleged incident on February 23, 2022. The defense has concerns about the defendant’s ability to be able to assist in her own defense at this time.”
In March, Judge Thomas Walsh turned down Frelich’s request for a new competency exam, saying defense attorneys had not presented any evidence contrary to others who have deemed her competent to stand trial.
A hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday in the case.
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