A jury has delivered a guilty verdict against Taylor Schabusiness, a 25-year-old Wisconsin woman, for the murder and dismemberment of her former boyfriend, Shad Thyrion. The Brown County jury reached their decision in less than an hour, convicting Schabusiness of homicide, third-degree sexual abuse, and mutilating a corpse. The shocking crime took place in February 2022, with Schabusiness accused of strangling Thyrion at his Green Bay home, sexually abusing him, and dismembering his body, scattering the remains throughout the house and a vehicle.
During the trial, Brown County District Attorney David Lasee described the case as “bizarre” but emphasized that the evidence against Schabusiness was clear. In his closing argument, Lasee stated, “She did cause Shad Thyrion’s death.” Defense attorney Christopher Froelich, on the other hand, characterized the case as confusing and unclear. Froelich questioned whether Thyrion’s death was accidental or intentional.
The trial will now begin a second phase to determine Schabusiness’s mental state and whether she should be sent to a mental institution or prison. Following her arrest, Schabusiness had a not guilty plea entered on her behalf by the court, with her former attorney entering a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. In March, Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh ruled that Schabusiness was competent to stand trial. It is worth noting that in a previous incident, Schabusiness attacked her former attorney during a hearing, resulting in her being restrained by a deputy.
As the trial moves forward, the focus will continue shift to Schabusiness’s mental state and the appropriate course of action. The court will have to determine whether she was mentally ill at the time of the crime and whether she should be held accountable in a mental institution or face imprisonment.