Jordan Peters appears in Waupaca County court, Feb. 5, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
WAUPACA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A man who allegedly killed his mother added a plea Monday of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
Jordan Peters, 19, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide for the Sept. 4 death of Angela Zahn.
Waupaca County Judge Vicki Clussman ordered a psychiatric exam. He returns to court March 13 for a status conference.
The not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect addresses Peters’ mental state at the time of the crime. If the case goes to trial, the jury would first be asked to determine if Peters is guilty or innocent.
If found guilty, the same jury will hear the second phase of the trial, addressing his mental condition. If it determines he suffered from a mental disease and could not discern right from wrong, he would be committed to a mental institution. If it rejects the so-called insanity plea, Peters would be sent to prison.
According the criminal complaint, after Zahn was stabbed, she identified her attacker as Peters.
“He hates me,” she told police, the complaint states. Peters’ explanation to police cited their past history.
“During the interview when asked about what happened Jordan stated “I guess I got really angry and was thinking about the past and got to that breaking point and just stabbed her”. Officers asked Jordan why he had the knife with him today and Jordan stated “because I had plans to hurt [Zahn].” Jordan went on to tell investigators that he had wanted to kill (Zahn) for the last year and had begun planning it over the last week,” the complaint states.
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