Taylor Schabusiness, a 27-year-old woman from Wisconsin, made headlines when she killed and dismembered her lover, Shad Thyrion, during a meth-fueled tryst in February 2022. After strangling Thyrion, she cut off his head and penis. Footage of her wild courtroom outburst emerged, showing her lunging at her own lawyer, Paul Julka. At least five court deputies had to restrain her before she could attack her attorney, who remained calm despite the dramatic scene.
In September 2023, Schabusiness was sentenced to life in prison for her crimes. However, she was back in court in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, for a hearing related to an incident earlier in the year where she allegedly attacked a prison guard. During the hearing, Julka was speaking to the judge when Schabusiness became agitated and started shouting incomprehensibly. The footage shows the chaotic moment when she tried to attack her attorney, who maintained a sense of nonchalance as court officers held her back.
During her trial, a Green Bay Police Department Detective testified that Schabusiness had initially enjoyed choking Thyrion during sex and wanted to see what would happen if she continued. After he died, she carried out the gruesome actions of mutilating his corpse, including chopping off his head. Ultimately, Schabusiness was found guilty of first-degree intentional homicide, third-degree sexual assault, and mutilating a corpse. Despite her insanity plea, the jury did not accept it.
Following her outburst in court, Schabusiness’s hearing for the alleged prison guard attack was moved to Zoom to avoid further disruptions. The footage of her violent behavior in court shocked many observers, highlighting the extreme nature of her crimes and the impact of drug use on her behavior. The case of Taylor Schabusiness serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of drug addiction and the capacity for violence it can unleash in individuals like her. The chilling details of her crimes continue to haunt those involved in the case and serve as a cautionary tale of the lengths to which some individuals may go when under the influence of drugs.
