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McKINNEY, Texas - A woman accused of cutting off her 10-month-old daughter's arms and leaving the bleeding baby in her crib to die was found not guilty by reason of insanity at a retrial Friday.
Police had arrested Dena Schlosser in 2004 after finding her baby daughter Margaret near death and Schlosser, 38, covered in blood, holding a knife and listening to a hymn.
At her first trial, the jury deadlocked on the murder charge in February, with 10 of the 12 jurors saying she was legally insane. The deadlock forced a mistrial, and the two sides agreed last week to have Judge Chris Oldner decide the case.
Oldner issued the verdict a brief hearing Friday morning, and Schlosser is expected to be committed to a state mental hospital for treatment.
The case against her had hinged on whether Schlosser had severe mental problems that kept her from knowing her actions were wrong.
Defense attorneys told the judge last week that Schlosser had a brain tumor that could have caused hallucinations before the killing.
Several psychiatrists testified that Schlosser lost touch with reality, suffered severe mood swings and experienced religious hallucinations and delusions. One doctor said she told him she wanted to cut off her baby's arms and her own limbs and head and give them God.
The defense faulted Schlosser's husband for not getting her adequate mental health treatment and also blamed her preacher, Doyle Davidson, who believes only God can cure mental illness.
The state argued the defense was trying to deflect responsibility from Schlosser. Prosecutors presented a methodical case, focusing on possible inconsistencies and behaviors that might indicate she knew that killing her baby was wrong.
John Schlosser, her husband, has filed for divorce and has custody of the couple's two other daughters.
As horrific as her action is, its almost as bad that she can get away with it by blaming her husband and her preacher.
There should be no "treatment" for anyone who does something like this.
McKINNEY, Texas - A woman accused of cutting off her 10-month-old daughter's arms and leaving the bleeding baby in her crib to die was found not guilty by reason of insanity at a retrial Friday.
Police had arrested Dena Schlosser in 2004 after finding her baby daughter Margaret near death and Schlosser, 38, covered in blood, holding a knife and listening to a hymn.
At her first trial, the jury deadlocked on the murder charge in February, with 10 of the 12 jurors saying she was legally insane. The deadlock forced a mistrial, and the two sides agreed last week to have Judge Chris Oldner decide the case.
Oldner issued the verdict a brief hearing Friday morning, and Schlosser is expected to be committed to a state mental hospital for treatment.
The case against her had hinged on whether Schlosser had severe mental problems that kept her from knowing her actions were wrong.
Defense attorneys told the judge last week that Schlosser had a brain tumor that could have caused hallucinations before the killing.
Several psychiatrists testified that Schlosser lost touch with reality, suffered severe mood swings and experienced religious hallucinations and delusions. One doctor said she told him she wanted to cut off her baby's arms and her own limbs and head and give them God.
The defense faulted Schlosser's husband for not getting her adequate mental health treatment and also blamed her preacher, Doyle Davidson, who believes only God can cure mental illness.
The state argued the defense was trying to deflect responsibility from Schlosser. Prosecutors presented a methodical case, focusing on possible inconsistencies and behaviors that might indicate she knew that killing her baby was wrong.
John Schlosser, her husband, has filed for divorce and has custody of the couple's two other daughters.
As horrific as her action is, its almost as bad that she can get away with it by blaming her husband and her preacher.
There should be no "treatment" for anyone who does something like this.
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