Why was Alexis Saborit acquitted? Minnesota man found not guilty of girlfriend's murder on grounds of mental illness
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
SHAKOPEE, MINNESOTA: A man who was charged with the murder of his girlfriend two years ago has reportedly been acquitted of the crime. Alexis Saborit allegedly murdered and beheaded America Thayer, 55, on July 28, 2021, and was immediately caught by the cops of the Shakopee Police Department.
At the time, the department shared via a media statement, "Shakopee officers found 55-year-old America Mafalda Thayer of Shakopee on the sidewalk with stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The department would also like to extend its condolences to the family of the victim," before stating in another press release, "A suspect is in custody, and there is no threat to public safety. We do not believe this was a random act of violence. Again, there is no threat to public safety."
Why was Alexis Saborit acquitted?
Saborit was found guilty of killing the 55-year-old woman and convicted of first-degree premeditated murder in May. He reportedly used an eight-pound dumbbell to take the life of Thayer and used a machete to decapitate her. However, this week, Judge Caroline Lennon acquitted him after a mental competency report was submitted, claiming he is not fit psychologically, as per CBS News. Judge Lennon considered Saborit's medical history before announcing the verdict that mentioned his "symptoms of mania in conjunction with psychosis" and that he "was suffering from mental illness to the extent that it prevented him from understanding the moral wrongfulness of his actions during the alleged offense." The court documents added that Judge Lennon noticed "no deficit in the experts' review of the record or the soundness of their analysis."
'It's really hard for me to understand'
Meanwhile, the family of Thayer has not been happy with the recent judgment. Her son Charles said, "Hearing the words 'not guilty' to murdering my mother? It's really hard for me to understand. It's hard for me to explain to my family, too," as reported by KARE 11. "It’s tough to understand how someone can commit a cold-blooded murder, plan to do it, tell everyone they’re going to do it, have a motive to do it, then somehow be considered insane. The hardest thing for us is the 'not guilty' — the words being said that he’s 'not guilty’," he remarked, adding, "I just don't know what world or society we're living in anymore. I just want this to be over with for myself — and my family, more importantly — and just be able to move on and remember the good things about my mom."