By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — After about seven hours of deliberation, a 12-person jury found Autumn B. Stahl guilty but mentally ill on four charges.

Stahl, 34, 4722 E. Old Road 30, Pierceton, was found guilty of but mentally ill regarding attempted aggravated battery, a level 3 felony; battery by means of a deadly weapon, a level 5 felony; neglect of a dependent, a level 6 felony; and domestic battery committed in the presence of a child, a level 6 felony.

The jury found Stahl not guilty of aggravated battery, a level 3 felony; and not guilty on one of the Level 6 felony neglect of a dependent charges.

Sentencing is scheduled for 8 a.m. Jan. 12, in Kosciusko Superior Court One.

After sentencing, Stahl’s bond was revoked and she was remanded to the custody of the Kosciusko County Jail.

Psychiatrist, Psychologist Testify

The trial continued on Thursday, Dec. 15, with Dr. Andrew Smith, a staff psychiatrist at Bowen Center, providing expert testimony on Stahl’s mental health. Smith evaluated Stahl in September 2021. He ruled that Stahl did not have the ability to understand the wrongfulness of her conduct on Aug. 1, 2020, but did have the ability to understand court proceedings if she took her case to trial.

Prior to his evaluation of Stahl, Smith said he looked over documents related to the case, including police reports about the incident and an evaluation from Dr. Bryan Ciula, a retired psychologist.

Smith said Stahl was fairly calm throughout their conversation and recognized the events of Aug. 1, 2020, did not make sense. At the time of the interview, Smith believed Stahl was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, postpartum depression, and postpartum psychosis.

Postpartum psychosis, according to Smith, is when an individual experiences psychotic symptoms after giving birth.

He ruled on Aug. 1, 2020, Stahl was delusional, operating under a sense to protect her family. When asked by Defense Attorney Nicholas Wallace if feelings of isolation, sleep deprivation, and physical abuse were potential contributors to Stahl’s mental condition, Smith said that was possible.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Sobek asked Smith if Stahl’s children were in danger on Aug. 1, 2020. Smith said they were in danger based on Stahl’s actions and mental state at the time.

Smith was also questioned about video interviews between Stahl and Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sgt. James Marshall,. As Smith did not have access to the videos, Sobek asked if watching the interviews would change Smith’s perspective on Stahl’s overall mental state. Smith said it would not.

Ciula then testified, also ruling that Stahl did not have the ability to understand the wrongfulness of her conduct on Aug. 1, 2020, but did have the ability to understand court proceedings if she took her case to trial. Ciula evaluated Stahl in June 2021 and spent about four hours interviewing and testing Stahl.

Ciula discussed the Dusky standard, which is used to determine if an individual is competent to stand trial. He said Stahl rationally understood trial proceedings and, in his opinion, was able to meet the criteria to cooperate with legal counsel.

He also mentioned the likelihood of Stahl suffering from postpartum psychosis during the incident.

Sobek questioned Ciula on the video interviews between Stahl and Marshall. Ciula said the videos would have possibly helped in his evaluation of Stahl. Sobek also asked about Smith reviewing documents from Ciula on Stahl prior to the interview, wondering if that had an effect on Smith’s conclusion. Ciula said it would not.

Written evaluation statements from Smith and Ciula on Stahl were submitted as evidence to the jury.

Closing Statements

In his closing statement to the jury, Sobek recalled evidence the state presented to prove Stahl knowingly and intentionally committed each of the acts she was charged with.

“This, for the most part, is analyzing a brain,” said Sobek about the case. “You (the jury) decide if there’s criminal liability or not.”

He further argued Stahl did have a motive for her actions if the jury believed her story of being abused by the man she stabbed.

With Stahl’s defense of insanity, Sobek noted the state does not have to prove her insanity, as they only have the burden of proof to show beyond a reasonable doubt Stahl committed the acts. He reminded the jury of body camera footage from the day of the incident, recalling instances where Stahl was directly asked questions by police officers and gave coherent responses.

Sobek said Stahl showed enough comprehension and conscientious thought when officers arrived on Aug. 1, 2020. He also emphasized the jury should not give Smith’s testimony any weight, arguing Smith did not come to his own conclusions on Stahl’s mental health since he reviewed Ciula’s evaluation prior to speaking with Stahl. Sobek argued that Smith’s evaluation was influenced by Ciula’s because of this prior review.

Toward the end of his statement, Sobek also asked the jury to consider rulings of guilty but mentally ill on Stahl’s charges.

Wallace emphasized Stahl’s circumstances in his closing statement, telling the jury Stahl was a victim of domestic abuse and was extremely isolated on Aug. 1, 2020. He also said Stahl struggled with mental health issues ever since she was in high school.

Wallace also asked the jury to not consider testimony from the man stabbed by Stahl, arguing the man’s history of domestic violence toward Stahl made his testimony irrelevant.

He further argued Stahl’s demeanor in her follow-up interview with Marshall was cordial, with Stahl profusely apologizing for her actions and defending the man she stabbed.

Wallace asked the jury to return a verdict of Stahl not being responsible by reason of insanity, which would state Stahl was so mentally disturbed at the time of the incident that she did not have the required intention to commit the crime.

In his final closing statement, Sobek said the jury knew more about Stahl’s case than Smith and Ciula since they had viewed and heard more information on the incident than they had.

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