Taylor Schabusiness backed by father at meth murder sentencing: Live
Taylor Schabusiness googled “Jeffrey Dahmer’s butt” before killing his lover
Taylor Schabusiness is sentenced today for brutality murder her lover Shad Thyrion, in a case that sent shockwaves across America.
Back in February 2022, 25-year-old Schabusiness strangled 24-year-old Thyrion during a meth sex rendezvous before sexually assaulting his corpse. She then decapitated his body and threw his head in a bucket for his traumatized mother to find in their Green Bay home. Wisconsin.
Thyrion’s torso, penis and organs were also found scattered in the basement, while one of his feet was found in his chest cavity.
During her harrowing three-day trial, Schabusiness was seen grinning as jurors heard gruesome testimony about Thyrion’s murder and how she had Googled “Jeffrey Dahmer’s ass” before killing him.
The jury took just 30 minutes to find her guilty of first-degree premeditated murder, mutilation of a corpse and third-degree sexual assault
Sentencing of Schabusiness in Brown County is underway. Wisconsin, where she faces a life sentence. Her father, Arturo Coronado, who is in prison for sexually abusing a child, told the court that she had a drug problem and mental health problems.
It is also expected that Schabusiness himself will speak – as the first statement in court.
WATCH: Moment Taylor Schabusiness appears for sentencing
Taylor Schabusiness appears for sentencing after being convicted of beheading his friend
Rachel SharpSeptember 26, 2023 5:16 p.m
Next witness: Dr. James O’Donnell
The next witness is Dr. James O’Donnell, an expert on the effects of drug abuse on a person, including methamphetamine.
(Law & Crime)
Rachel SharpSeptember 26, 2023 5:11 p.m
“Drugs mess people up”
Schabusiness’ father says her daughter was always a “good kid” but made mistakes.
“She was a good kid her whole life,” he said.
“Drugs mess people up.”
Coronado says his daughter has a drug problem and also mental health issues.
He says she received on-and-off mental health treatment for years but feels she fell through the cracks of the system.
At some point she was admitted to a psychiatric center and treated with antipsychotics.
Rachel SharpSeptember 26, 2023 5:03 p.m
Next witness: Schabusiness’ handcuffed father Arturo Coronado
The next witness is Schabusiness’ father Arturo Coronado.
Coronado appeared in court at the time wearing an orange prison smock and shackles because he is also behind bars after being convicted of second-degree sexual abuse of a child.
(Law & Crime)
Rachel SharpSeptember 26, 2023 4:54 p.m
Valerie Armor says that even though they lived in other states, she would see Schabusiness at family events.
Growing up, Schabusiness was a happy child.
She says Schabusiness has always had the support of her family and would support her even if she were released from prison.
“Taylor comes from a loving family. I know that she is loving, that she has compassion, that she is capable of love,” she says.
“I think she has suffered immense trauma in her life.”
She points out the loss of Schabusiness’s mother, her father’s remarriage (she says that Schabusiness had to live in the basement of the house), and the death of her brother.
“She has a history of trauma and I believe she has mental health issues,” she says.
Even now, Ms. Armor says she is there for her cousin and hopes she can be released later in life and have a relationship with her child.
“It’s not a lost cause,” she says.
“Is she a monster?” asks Schabusiness’s lawyer.
“She’s not a monster,” Ms. Armor says.
Rachel SharpSeptember 26, 2023 4:49 p.m
Next witness: Schabusiness’ cousin Valerie Armor
Schabusiness’ cousin Valerie Armor, a married mother of five living in Ohio, is the next witness to speak in court.
(Law & Crime)
Rachel SharpSeptember 26, 2023 4:40 p.m
Schabusiness’s grandmother says she needs “help”
Esther Coronado says Schabusiness “needs help” – such as counseling and substance abuse treatment.
“She went through a lot in her short life…” she says.
She adds that Schabusiness can be a “very caring person” but she “always ended up getting hurt because she trusted people.”
“People have just taken advantage of her and she thinks they care, but they don’t care,” she says.
Ms. Coronado told the court that she believes her granddaughter should be given another chance and possibly be sentenced to probation.
Rachel SharpSeptember 26, 2023 4:36 p.m
Schabusiness’s grandmother talks about upbringing: “She’s been through a lot”
Esther Coronado is the mother of Schabusiness’ father Arturo Coronado.
In 2009, Schabusiness’s mother died and shortly afterwards her father remarried to a woman who already had children.
Ms. Coronado says Schabusiness felt “as if she had lost her mother and then her father.”
On July 1, 2022, Schabusiness’s brother also died in a motorcycle accident.
“I think she’s been through a lot in her short time here,” Ms. Coronado said of her granddaughter.
“There are many things… losing her mother, her father remarrying, then she gets pregnant and loses her son, then she loses her brother.
“That’s a lot for one person.”
Rachel SharpSeptember 26, 2023 4:27 p.m
First defense witness: Esther Coronado
Schabusiness’s grandmother, Esther Coronado, speaks to the court remotely via Zoom.
She says she used to live in Illinois and helped look after Schabusiness when she was born.
She later moved to Texas.
In October 2021, Schabusiness gave birth to her baby Mateo in Texas.
Ms Coronado says Schabusiness was “excited” when she found out about the baby and when she gave birth she was “very happy”.
But “it didn’t last very long,” because 24 hours later, CPS took the baby away, she says. “It was very difficult for her,” Ms. Coronado said.
Schabusiness moved to a shelter and the baby was later returned to the care of Ms. Coronado.
Schabusiness is not allowed to spend much time with her baby due to court orders, she says.
Now Ms. Coronado and her husband are taking care of Mateo – and are now adopting the infant.
(Law & Crime)
Rachel SharpSeptember 26, 2023 4:16 p.m
From whom the court will hear:
Prosecutors say no witnesses will be called for the state, but a witness statement will be read.
Schabusiness attorney Christopher Froelich says he is calling several witnesses, including Schabusiness father Arturo Coronado, grandmother Esther Coronado and cousin Valerie Armour.
The expert Dr. James O’Donnell will also speak about the impact of meth use on the defense.
Rachel SharpSeptember 26, 2023 4:06 p.m
