GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — With a second psychiatric exam on Taylor Schabusiness’ competency to stand trial for allegedly killing and decapitating a man not yet complete, a judge scheduled a hearing on the matter, when both doctors are expected to testify.
WARNING: Some people may find the details in this story disturbing.
Schabusiness is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse, and third-degree sexual assault for allegedly killing Shad Thyrion Feb. 22 at a west side home.
The competency exam process determines if she understands the court proceedings and can assist in her own defense. The first exam determined she is competent, but the defense — as the law allows — asked for a second opinion.
In court Tuesday, defense attorney Quinn Jolly asked for more time for his expert to continue his evaluation.
But with Judge Thomas Walsh saying said the second exam gave differing results than the first — insofar as the first determined she is competent, and the second report did not reach that or any conclusion — he scheduled an evidentiary hearing for May 19. The judge would then decide if Schabusiness is competent to stand trial.
If she is ruled competent to stand trial, a preliminary hearing would be the next phase of the case.
These mental exams do not address Schabusiness’ mental state at the time of the offense; that issue could be raised at a later stage of the case.
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.
