Wisconsin woman convicted of homicide, mutilating a corpse, sexual abuse after death of boyfriend
GREEN BAY, Wis. – A Wisconsin jury on Wednesday convicted Taylor Schabusiness, 25, of homicide, third-degree sexual abuse and mutilating a corpse in the February 2022 killing of former boyfriend Shad Thyrion, 24.
Jurors began deliberating about 4:50 p.m. and returned to the courtroom about 5:40 p.m.
Bailiffs escorted Schabusiness from the courtroom in handcuffs.
Schabusiness was arrested in February 2022 after police were called to a house in Green Bay, where Thyrion's mother discovered her son's head in a bucket in the basement. Schabusiness was charged in the death and dismemberment of Thyrion.
Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh instructed jurors to be back in the courtroom by 9:15 a.m. Thursday for the next phase of the trial — to see whether Schabusiness was not guilty by mental disease or defect.
Her former attorney, Quinn Jolly, entered that plea on her behalf in September. Jolly represented Schabusiness until February, when she attacked him during a hearing.
More on this case: Video shows woman attack attorney during hearing for Wisconsin dismemberment case
Closing arguments
In their closing arguments Wednesday, prosecutors Caleb Saunders and David Lasee said the case was simple for jurors.
"This is bizarre. This is strange. This is unnatural, but in no way is it unclear," said Lasee, Brown County district attorney. Schabusiness "did cause Shad Thyrion's death."
Saunders, an assistant district attorney, said, "There's one truth in this case: What the defendant did to Shad Thyrion."
But defense attorney Christopher Froelich said the pieces of evidence didn't fit together so neatly.
"This case is a puzzling, unclear collection of facts," Froelich said, adding, "Was this an accidental death? Was there intent to kill Shad Thryion? It's foggy, it's cloudy, it's hard to figure out."
A jury of nine women and seven men was selected. Four of the jurors were designated as alternates when the jury began deliberations.
Timeline of events in Schabusiness case
- Feb. 23, 2022: One person in custody in 'suspicious death' of 24-year-old Green Bay man on west side
- March 1, 2022: Green Bay police report says woman shared meth and had sex with man, then strangled and decapitated him
- March 3, 2022: Green Bay woman accused of strangling, decapitating man told police she was on meth. How does that drug make people so violent?
- March 4, 2022: What we know and what we don't know about the Green Bay dismemberment of Shad Thyrion, 'a kind and compassionate person'
- March 17, 2022: Judge explains why he ordered competency exam of Taylor Schabusiness in Green Bay dismemberment case
- April 13, 2022: Judge allows second exam after Schabusiness found competent for trial in Green Bay decapitation, dismemberment case
- May 10, 2022: Green Bay woman accused in beheading, dismemberment case gets new competency hearing, set for May 19 in Brown County Circuit Court
- May 19, 2022: Taylor Schabusiness of Green Bay found competent to stand trial in the decapitation, dismemberment case
- June 2, 2022: Taylor Schabusiness to stand trial in the February killing, decapitation of a Green Bay man inside a basement
- July 5, 2022: Taylor Schabusiness pleads not guilty in February killing, decapitation of Shad Thyrion of Green Bay
- Sept. 1, 2022: Defense lawyer in Green Bay beheading case asks judge to find Schabusiness not guilty by reason of insanity
- Nov. 1, 2022: Taylor Schabusiness hearing on competency evaluation in beheading case postponed until Nov. 18
- Nov. 22, 2022: Trial set for Taylor Schabusiness in case where Green Bay man was decapitated
- Jan. 6, 2023: Taylor Schabusiness 'capable of proceeding' in beheading case, court-appointed expert says
- Feb. 14, 2023: Taylor Schabusiness attacks lawyer in Brown County courtroom; she is charged with killing, decapitating friend
- Feb. 17, 2023: After Schabusiness attacks lawyer, sheriff plans for more security in next court appearance
- March 3, 2023: Judge Walsh rejects request to remove himself from Schabusiness case after she attacked her attorney in court
- March 24, 2023: Taylor Schabusiness to go on trial July 24 in homicide, beheading of Green Bay man
- March 31, 2023: Schabusiness seeks a change of venue, insists media coverage poisons her chances of not-guilty verdict in beheading case
- April 19, 2023: Judge in Green Bay decapitation case will not move Schabusiness homicide trial out of Brown County
- May 5, 2023: Taylor Schabusiness lawyer asks Brown County judge to allow new mental-health evaluation in beheading case
- May 9, 2023: Judge will not reduce $2 million bail for Taylor Schabusiness in beheading case
- May 31, 2023: Brown County judge rules photos in Schabusiness case must remain under seal, at least until June 13 hearing
- June 13, 2023: Judge denies Taylor Schabusiness’ attorney’s attempt to suppress statements made to police
- July 5, 2023: Schabusiness will get new competency exam; judges denies request to delay her trial in beheading case
- July 13, 2023: Schabusiness unfit to stand trial for killing, corpse mutilation, forensic psychologist tells judge
- July 21, 2023: Judge rules Taylor Schabusiness is fit to stand trial in 2022 slaying of Green Bay man
- July 24, 2023: Schabusiness trial: Victim's mother talks about finding her son's severed head in bucket
- July 25, 2023: Schabusiness trial: Thyrion's death ruled homicide; expert says body mutilated for hours after death
- July 26, 2023: Schabusiness police interview describes Thyrion's death; prosecution, defense wrap up their case
Murder: Former pastor charged in 1975 murder of Gretchen Harrington, 8, who was walking to church
Email Doug Schneider at DSchneid@Gannett.com, call him at (630) 373-0799 and follow him on Twitter @PGDougSchneider