Taylor Schabusiness appears in spit mask as she’s sentenced: update
Taylor Schabusiness was convicted of killing lover Shad Thyrion in a meth-fuelled sex tryst before decapitating him and dumping his head in a bucket
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Taylor Schabusiness has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the brutal murder of her lover Shad Thyrion, in a case that sent shockwaves across America.
In February 2022, Schabusiness, 25, strangled Thyrion, 24, during a meth-fuelled sex tryst before sexually assaulting his corpse. She decapitated him and dumped his head in a bucket for his traumatised mother to find inside her home in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
At her sentencing, where she appeared in a spit hood, Schabusiness was asked if she had anything to tell the court.
She responded with just two words: “There isn’t.”
The judge heard from Schabusiness’ family members, who said the troubled mother-of-one had a promising life before she was introduced to hard drugs by her husband.
“She’s not the monster that she’s made out to be,” her father, who is serving time for a child rape conviction, said.
Thyrion’s uncle Kelly Thyrion said that he hoped Schabusiness faced the same fate as serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.
“I will pray that you meet the same fate as your idol Jeffrey Dahmer,” he said. “So have a great life, S***business.”
Taylor Schabusiness decapitated and mutilated her lover in a meth-fueled tryst. Then she bragged to police
Taylor Schabusiness googled ‘Jeffrey Dahmer’s butt’ before killing lover and sexually assaulting corpse
Taylor Schabusiness scowls as she’s convicted of dismembering lover and dumping his head in a bucket
Accused murderer smirks as court hears how her lover’s head was discovered in bucket
WATCH: Taylor Schabusiness googled ‘Jeffrey Dahmer’s butt’ before killing lover
Taylor Schabusiness told police they'd ‘had fun trying to find all of the organs’
After Thyrion’s mother found her son’s head, authorities eventually located Schabusiness – who had removed a GPS tracker from her ankle.
Detective Graf testified that Schabusiness had initially claimed to have blacked out while choking Thyrion, but then allegedly admitted thinking that she regained consciousness and thought she was “already this far” so she just kept on, referring to choking the victim.
The criminal complaint also read: “Schabusiness stated she thought it took 3-5 minutes for the Victim to die. Detective Kempf clarified with Schabusiness that when the Victim began to cough up blood she just did keep on choking the Victim because she wanted to see what happens.”
“Schabusiness stated she enjoyed choking him and made comments to detectives asking if they knew what it was like to love something so much that you kill it.”
Schabusiness allegedly indicated the crime scene and told officers that they would “have fun trying to find all of the organs”.
Schabusiness entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity entered by her former attorney.
Last year, a physician appointed by the court found that she was able to stand trial. Her attorney said at that time that Schabusiness has been diagnosed as bipolar in the past and that she had been getting mental health treatment since she was in the seventh grade.
However, Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh ruled in March that Schabusiness was competent to stand trial.
In February, Schabusiness attacked her previous attorney during a court hearing before a deputy wrestled her to the courtroom floor.
Schabusiness’s current attorney filed a motion to exclude evidence of searches Schabusines made before the murder, including “Jeffrey Dahmer walking into court all sexy” and “Jeffrey Dahmer’s butt.” Judge Walsh ruled that the evidence can be admitted in court, but no mention should be made of her searches for satanism.
ICYMI: Taylor Schabusiness scowls as she’s convicted of murdering and dismembering lover
Taylor Schabusiness scowled and stared down the jury as she was convicted of murdering and dismembering her lover, sexually assaulting his corpse and then dumping his head in a bucket for his mother to find.
Jurors in Brown County, Wisconsin, took just over 30 minutes to find the 25-year-old guilty on all counts of first-degree intentional homicide, mutilation of a corpse and third-degree sexual assault in the shocking murder of her former boyfriend Shad Thyrion.
As the verdict was read out, Schabusiness scowled and sipped water from a cup.
She then turned in her chair and glowered at the jury as each panel member was asked by the judge if the verdict was true and correct.
Throughout the harrowing three-day trial, the panel heard gruesome testimony of how Schabusiness strangled Thyrion in a meth-fuelled sex tryst back in February 2022.
Catch-up here:
Taylor Schabusiness scowls as she’s convicted of murdering and dismembering lover
Throughout a harrowing three-day trial, jurors heard gruesome testimony of how Schabusiness strangled Shad Thyrion in a meth-fuelled sex tryst back in February 2022
Taylor Schabusiness’ convict father to return to court to speak at sentencing
Taylor Schabusiness’ father is one of the individuals expected to speak at her sentencing.
Arturo Coronado, 52, previously took the stand to testify in his daughter’s defence at trial as her attorneys sought to convince jurors that she was not mentally competent.
Coronado appeared in court then in orange prison scrubs and shackles as he is also behind bars after being convicted of second-degree sexual assault of a child.
He was sentenced to 12 years in prison and ordered to stay away from the victim and victim’s family.
WATCH: Moment woman accused of decapitating lover attacks lawyer in court
Moment woman accused of decapitating lover attacks her own lawyer in court
Footage shows the moment a married woman - accused of decapitating her lover - attacked her lawyer in court. Taylor Schabusiness, 25, jumped her attorney, Quinn Jolly, in a courtroom in Green bay, Wisconsin. The altercation happened after a witness failed to show up to testify on Schabusiness’ mental state, according to reports. Wearing handcuffs, she can be seen attempting to elbow her lawyer in the face. Schabusiness is charged with first-degree homicide, mutilating a corpse and third-degree sexual assault after the victim’s own mother discovered her son’s severed head in a bucket. Click here to sign up for our newsletters.
Convicted killer faces life in prison on charges
Convicted killer Taylor Schabusiness faces life in prison at her sentencing on Tuesday.
In July, the 25-year-old was convicted of: first-degree intentional homicide, mutilation of a corpse and third-degree sexual assault.
Wisconsin does not have the death penalty and so the maximum sentence she faces is life without the possibility of parole.
Taylor Schabusiness sentencing to begin soon
Taylor Schabusiness’ sentencing was scheduled to begin at 10.30am ET in court in Brown County, Wisconsin.
Here’s what to expect:
- Victim impact statements will be read out.
- Schabusiness’ family members – including her father – are also expected to appear as witnesses.
- Defence attorneys are expected to present mitigating factors including calling an expert to testify about the effects of methamphetamine.
- Schabusiness herself is also expected to speak – marking her first comments to the court.
HAPPENING NOW: Taylor Schabusiness in court for sentencing
Taylor Schabusiness is wearing an orange prison scrubs and what appears to be anti-spit hood or mask.
Who the court will hear from:
Prosecutors say no witnesses will be called for the state but one witness statement will be read out.
Schabusiness’ attorney Christopher Froelich says he is calling several witnesses including Schabusiness’ father Arturo Coronado, grandmother Esther Coronado and cousin Valerie Armour.
Expert Dr James O’Donnell will also speak on the effects of meth use for the defence.
First defence witness: Esther Coronado
Schabusiness’ grandmother Esther Coronado is speaking to the court remotely by Zoom.
She says she used to live in Illinois and helped look after Schabusiness there when she was born.
She later moved to Texas.
In October 2021, Schabusiness gave birth to her baby Mateo in Texas.
Ms Coronado says Schabusiness was “excited” when she found out about the baby and, when she gave birth, was “very happy”.
But “it didn’t last very long” as, 24 hours later, CPS took the baby away, she says. “It was very hard for her,” says Ms Coronado.
Schabusiness moved to a shelter and the baby was later returned to the care of Ms Coronado.
Schabusiness wouldn’t be allowed to spend much time with her baby due to court orders, she says.
Now, Ms Coronado and her husband are caregivers of Mateo – and are now adopting the infant.
