US: Ohio woman stabs mother 30 times after being outed for college expulsion

A 23-year-old woman from Ohio has been found guilty of brutally killing her mother, 50, by hitting her on the head with a heavy iron pan and stabbing her almost 30 times in the neck. All because the young woman, Sydney Powell from Akron, didn’t want her mother to know that she had been kicked out of college. The Summit County Prosecutor’s Office announced that Sydney Powell has been convicted of murder, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence in the brutal killing of her mother, Brenda Powell, who worked in healthcare. In March of 2020, Sydney Powell used an iron skillet to strike her mother Brenda on the head, and then she repeatedly stabbed her mother in the neck, as stated by the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office. Reports from the Akron Beacon Journal reveal that Sydney Powell, who used to be a student at Mount Union University, cried in court when the jury declared her guilty. On March 3, 2020, the police found Brenda Powell in her home on Scudder Drive with severe injuries. She was quickly taken to the hospital but tragically succumbed to her injuries. According to a report from the New York Post, Sydney attacked her mother while she was speaking on the phone with officials from her college. During the trial, the defense argued that Sydney Powell suffered from schizophrenia and therefore should not be held responsible for her mother’s murder. James Reardon, one of three experts for the defense who diagnosed her, stated that Sydney experienced a severe mental breakdown when she killed her mother, whom she had previously considered her closest friend. However, Sylvia O’Bradovich, a psychologist hired by the prosecution, disagreed with this diagnosis. She argued that Sydney Powell did not meet the legal criteria for insanity at the time of the crime. Ms. O’Bradovich acknowledged that Powell had mental health issues, including traits of borderline personality, pretending to be ill, and an anxiety disorder. Assistant Prosecutor Brian Stano described the horrific incident in court, stating, “Sydney stopped using the pan, apparently went to the kitchen to get a knife. She had to change weapons and continue her attack,” as reported by the Akron Beacon Journal. Stano added, “Repeatedly stabbing someone in the neck with a knife is a deliberate act with the intent to kill.” Sydney Powell’s sentencing is scheduled for September 28th.