In Summit County, Ohio, on Wednesday, September 20, a jury declared a 23-year-old ex-college student guilty in connection to the murder of her mother.
The charges against her were verified by the prosecutor’s office and include murder, felonious assault, and the tampering of evidence.
In an incident dating back to March 2020, Sydney Powell launched a violent attack on her mother, Brenda Powell, who was 50 at the time. The assault began with an iron skillet blow to the head and culminated in nearly 30 stab wounds to the neck.
The reason behind this extreme act of violence was revealed in the court trial. Having recently faced expulsion from her college, Sydney was adamant about concealing this fact from her mother.
Brenda Powell had been serving as a child life specialist at Akron Children’s Hospital, a role she held for close to 30 years. Tragically, she passed away in the very hospital she served for so long.
Sydney’s mental state was a major discussion point throughout the trial. Three defense experts diagnosed her with schizophrenia, concluding she was not aware of the severity and wrongness of her actions, tying them to her mental condition. Challenging this view, clinical psychologist Dr. Silvia O’Bradovich testified that Sydney’s conduct was not in line with characteristics of schizophrenia.
Assistant Prosecutor Brian Stano drew attention to the severity of the assault in court, underscoring Sydney’s decision to switch weapons during the attack, indicative of clear intent.
Sydney’s high school, St. Vincent-St. Mary, expressed their profound grief, emphasizing the ripple effect of this tragedy on the larger community, who were familiar with both the mother and daughter.
The court set Thursday, September 28, as the date for Sydney Powell’s sentencing.