This is the full trial report of the true crime trial of Taylor Schabusiness who dismembered and beheaded her lover Shad Thyrion, designed to catch you up with the nucleus of the case efficiently!
Case Info
Case background:
The case of State of Wisconsin vs. Taylor Schabusiness involves the February 2022 killing and dismemberment of 24-year-old Shad Thyrion in Green Bay. Shad was last seen alive on February 22 after returning home with Schabusiness and going with her into the basement. Early the next morning, his mother and her partner discovered a severed head in a bucket, prompting a police response. Officers located additional body parts in bags, a tote, a backpack, and a crockpot box, along with several knives, cleaning supplies, drug paraphernalia, and a dog choke collar.
According to criminal complaint:
Count 1: 1st Degree Intentional Homicide, repeater – Guilty – Decided on 26th July 2023
Count 2: Mutilating a corpse, repeater – Guilty – Decided on 26th July 2023
Count 3: Third degree sexual assault, repeater – Guilty – Decided on 26th July 2023
Mental Capacity Responsibility: No mental defect or disease – Decided on 27th July 2023
Victim: Shad Thyrion (Deceased)
Date Of Incident: 22 February 2022
Incident Reported: 23 February 2023
Legend:
Repeater = repeat offender
Officers of the court
Judge: Thomas Walsh
Attorneys:
Prosecution: ADA Caleb Saunders, ADA Caucasian Male 2
Defence: Christopher Froelich
Former attorney(s): Quinn Jolly
Legend:
ADA = Assistant District Attorney
Day 4 Summary
Day 4 of the Taylor Schabusiness trial shifted into the mental-responsibility phase, where the defence carried the burden of proving she was not responsible for the murder of Shad Thyrion due to mental disease or defect. Jurors heard emotional testimony from Schabusiness’ father detailing her long history of psychiatric struggles, hospitalisations, hallucinations, and early bipolar diagnoses, followed by forensic psychologist Dr. Dianne Lytton, who argued Schabusiness suffered from genuine Bipolar I disorder and qualified for a Not Guilty by Reason of Mental Disease verdict.
The State countered with two expert psychologists, Dr. Matthew Siepel and Dr. Christina Engen, who testified that Schabusiness’ symptoms were far more consistent with methamphetamine-induced psychosis, not an underlying mental defect, and that malingering and exaggeration of symptoms were documented across evaluations. After closing arguments highlighting a “battle of experts,” the jury deliberated for roughly 50 minutes and rejected the NGI plea, finding no mental defect.
Full report below!
Heinz Report – WI vs. Taylor Schabusiness (2023)
Sources:
Criminal Complaint, Available Online: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21299905-taylor-denise-schabusiness-criminal-complaint/
WATCH LIVE: Beheaded Lover Murder Trial — WI v. Taylor Schabusiness — Day Four, 27th July 2025, Law & Crime Network Youtube Channel, Available online: https://www.youtube.com/live/P5-XWpsGdeY?si=R7L5vy8HVWkEll60
