Because the younger woman had been kicked out of college, a 23-year-old Ohio woman killed her mother by beating her with an iron skillet and stab*bing her dozens of times.
According to the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office, Sydney Powell of Akron was found guilty of mur*der, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence in the brutal death of health care worker Brenda Powell, 50.
“In March of 2020, Powell struck Brenda Powell in the head with an iron skillet, then stabbed her nearly 30 times in the neck,” according to a release from the office.
Powell, a former Mount Union University student, sobbed in the Summit County Common Pleas courtroom Wednesday after a jury found her guilty, according to the Akron Beacon Journal.
Brenda was discovered with severe injuries inside her Scudder Drive home by police on March 3, 2020. Brenda and her then-19-year-old daughter were both taken to the hospital, where she died.
Prosecutors claim Powell assaulted her mother, a child life specialist at Akron Children’s Hospital, while she was on the phone with school officials.
During the trial, the defense claimed Sydney had schizophrenia and thus could not be held responsible for the mur*der.
Sydney, according to James Reardon, one of three defense experts who made the diagnosis, had a psychotic break when she killed her mother, whom she had considered her best friend.
However, Sydney did not meet the legal definition of insanity at the time of the crime, according to Sylvia O’Bradovich, a psychologist hired by prosecutors.
According to the Beacon Journal, O’Bradovich admitted that Sydney has mental health issues such as borderline personality traits, malingering, and an anxiety disorder.
According to the outlet, Steven Powell, Sydney’s father and Brenda’s husband, and maternal grandmother Betsy Brown urged prosecutors to reach a settlement without a trial.
However, the prosecution stated that it preferred a jury trial.
“Sydney stopped attacking with the pan, presumably went to the kitchen with a knife,” Assistant Prosecutor Brian Stano explained.
“She had to switch weapons and keep attacking her,” he explained, adding that Sydney carried out the de*adly attack to keep her secret hidden.
“Just the knife in the neck several times?” That is deliberate. “That is an attempt to end someone,” Stano said.
Following the verdict, defense attorney Donald Malarcik declined to comment.
Powell’s sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 28. She could receive a maximum of life behind bars with possible parole after 15 years and additional time for the evidence tampering conviction.
