GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Taylor Schabusiness will spend the rest of her life in prison, plus 10 1/2 years — and will not have a chance for parole.
That was the decision of Judge Thomas Walsh, who sentenced Schabusiness Tuesday for the murder and dismemberment of Shad Thyrion.
Schabusiness, 25, was convicted in a two-part trial in July, with the jury finding her guilty before rejecting her insanity plea.
Schabusiness appeared in Brown County court for her sentencing wearing a spit guard. The Brown County Sheriff’s Office said because she spit on people in the jail, she had to wear one in court to protect those around her.
Judge Walsh also said he needed to protect the public from Taylor Schabusiness, saying there are no superlatives to describe the crimes she was convicted of committing.
“These actions are foreign to all that community and they shock the community beyond the ability to adequately express in words they really do,” Walsh said. “And that’s the gravity of this offense. That is the gravity of this offense.”
The judge’s decision came after several witnesses, including Schabusiness’ father, grandmother and cousin, testified about the traumatic childhood she had — including the death of her mother.
“Taylor has experienced a great amount of loss. I’m a mental health professional, she has trauma history and I believe she has mental health issues,” her cousin Valerie Armor testified. “I’m hoping, as she goes forward, she can get the help she needs and with some deep introspection be able to work on her issues and I’m here to be as much as I can with her on her next journey of life as much as I can.”
Her grandmother, who is raising Schabusiness’ nearly 2-year-old son, testified her granddaughter isn’t a monster; she was a loving mother who deserves to see her son, eventually.
“I know that she committed a crime and I know that they want her to pay for it, but I believe that she should have the opportunity to come back to society one time and be with her son,” Esther Coronado testified.
Shad Thyrion’s father, Michael, also asked the court for leniency. He told Schabusiness he forgave her for taking away his son.
“I believe everybody makes bad choices and maybe not to this scale but I think there is a lot of hope for you,” he said. “I think you can make sure of your time and be a better person and do great things yet.”
Other members of Thyrion’s family were not so forgiving.
“I’m not a praying man, but after Judge Walsh sentences you here today, I will pray that you meet the same fate as your idealistic Jeffrey Dahmer,” said Kelly Thyrion, the victim’s uncle.
In his argument to the court, prosecutor Caleb Saunders, asked for no parole saying Schabusiness killed Shad Thyrion because she liked it and wanted to do it. He recited her own words to the court.
“We have the defendant, in the (pre-sentence investigation) on page seven, saying, ‘I don’t have any regrets about what I did and I do not feel remorseful for Shad.’”
Shad Thyrion’s family and friends quickly left the courtroom after the sentence was handed down. Christopher Froelich, Taylor Schabusiness’ defense attorney, said he plans to file an appeal.
