CAUTION: This story contains graphic details.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Taylor Schabusiness did not suffer from a mental disease or defect when she killed Shad Thyrion, a jury has ruled.
The verdict after a day of testimony means Schabusiness will be sent to prison instead of a secure mental health facility.
Her sentencing has been set for Sept. 26.
Late Wednesday afternoon, a jury convicted Schabusiness of first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse and third-degree sexual assault for the killing and dismemberment of Shad Thyrion. However, because Schabusiness pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, the jury will now need to decide if Schabusiness suffered from some sort of mental illness that prevented her from appreciating the seriousness of the crimes she was committing.
Taylor Schabusiness sat emotionless as the verdict in phase two of her trial was read.
The unanimous decision by the jury means the panel of 12 does believe Taylor Schabusiness knew what she was doing when she killed Shad Thyrion.
It’s a decision that came following a full day of testimony in what the defense said was a battle of the experts.
Both the prosecution and defense putting forensic psychologists on the stand in the second phase of the Taylor Schabusiness’ trial.
The defense with the burden of proof in this phase, believing Schabusines was suffering from some sort of mental disease or defect when she killed Thyrion and therefore, she should not be held responsible.
Her attorney Christopher Froelich telling the jury, “The serious mental disorder affected Taylor Schabusiness’ ability to know right from wrong at the time of the alleged offense, dating back to February of 2022 and affected her ability to control her behaviors.”
The defense expert, Diane Lytton testifying she believes Schabusiness has undiagnosed bipolar disorder, a conclusion she reached after meeting with Schabusiness a couple of times as well as reviewing her medical records that included hospitalization and medication for mental health issues. Lytton said, “Based on my experience and training, that’s a psychotic person right there. And that’s what’s causing this really weird, bizarre and I’m telling ya, to me it’s off the scale. Thirty-two years, I’ve seen a lot of psychotic people bipolar psychotic manic, and I just haven’t seen very many like this. Very exceptional, very exceptional.”
The prosecutor, in his closing argument, saying the defense never proved Schabusiness suffered from a mental disease or defect and she in fact knew exactly what she was doing when she committed these crimes.
Assistant District Attorney Caleb Saunders told the jury, “You heard her say, yeah, I knew I was killing him but ‘I did it anyway’ right? Because that’s what she wanted to do. Mental disease or defect is not because you may not have a clear understanding of a motive. I would say you should, but that’s not a mental disease or defect just because what she ultimately did is in some respects quite disturbing it’s not a mental disease or defect.”
Shad Thyrion’s family, that sat through the entire trial, had no comment about the verdict as they left court.
And the district attorney declined to speak as well.
Thyrion was killed in his mother’s basement on Green Bay’s west side in February 2022.
During the trial on Wednesday, prosecutors played for the jury more than an hour of video recoded by police when Schabusiness was being interviewed following her arrest.
During that interview, and in what the jury saw on video, Schabusiness admitted to killing Shad Thyrion. She told investigators she choked him to death using a chain dog collar he put around his own neck.
In the recording, Schabusiness was heard saying, “It’s weird. I was riding him like a donkey okay, I think so and I think that’s what was happening and I started pulling and I don’t know. I don’t know and then I just didn’t stop. I don’t know why I just didn’t stop I didn’t stop.”
She admitted to dismembering Thyrion because she didn’t want to get caught. And she said she took his head off first because she liked it and she wanted to keep it, which is why it was found in a black bucket at the Stony Brook Lane home where Thyrion was killed. But, when she left the home, Schabusiness said she forgot to take the bucket with her.
The jury also heard how an examination of Schabusiness’ cell phone turned up two dozen searches about Jeffrey Dahmer, the notorious Wisconsin serial killer. Schabusiness told investigators she had a thing for Dahmer.
