“A lack of empathy and pre-frontal cortex domination can turn humans into the most vile criminals in a second.”
Blind rage is not something you witness on a day-to-day basis. It may be a momentary lapse as a quick and impulsive action of the limbic system (emotional-hot seat) before the pre-frontal cortex (rational brain) has time to ensure the consequences of the action.
However, where emotional intelligence and empathy are lacking, this blind rage takes it further and commits unimaginable crimes of passion in the heat of the moment. Whether it’s your family, friends, or an innocent stranger at the receiving end, these delusional people do not care. After committing the crime, anger turns to fear as they realize what they have done. Only, it is too late to turn back time and consequences need to be paid.
People report a similar incident taking place in Ohio, where one Sydney Powell was convicted of killing her mother, Brenda Powell by striking her head with an iron skillet, followed by stabbing her 30 times in the neck with a knife. The incident followed Sydney being kicked out of college and not wanting her mother to find it out. She has been sentenced to life imprisonment this week by Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Kelly McLaughlin according to a press release from Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh. She will be eligible for parole after serving a 15-year sentence in prison for inflicting first-degree murder on 50-year-old Brenda Powell.
September 20th was the date that marked Powell’s conviction where she was guilty of two counts of murder as well as felony counts of assault and tampering with evidence, People reports via the above-mentioned press release. The prosecutor elucidated, “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 coverage by FOX and BBC via People, here is how it went down. 19-year-old Sydney got kicked out of her school University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio, for poor grades and had not disclosed it to her mother, who was child life specialist at Akron Children’s Hospital for almost 30 years. She reportedly performed the act in her house when she discovered her mother was on a call with her school officials on March 3rd, 2020.
When the school officials on the call with Brenda heard muffled screams from the other end of the line, they immediately alerted the police. The 19-year-old murderer staged it as a break-in when the authorities arrived, thereby tapering with evidence. Thereafter, according to Court TV, Brenda succumbed to her injuries at Akron Children’s Hospital where she worked.
According to the Akron Beacon Journal, Sydney was diagnosed with schizophrenia by three defense experts who evaluated her, who said that she was not aware of her actions while committing the crime.
Per CourtTV, a clinical psychologist took a stand for the prosecutors saying, “The best source of information for an insanity evaluation is what was said and felt at the time of the incident,” Dr. Silvia O’Bradovich said, per Court TV. “It just didn’t add up to Schizophrenia.” To this Assistant Prosecutor Brian Stano added that the 19-year-old was purposeful in her action since after hitting her mother with an iron skillet, she fished out a knife to stab her and continue the deed.
Sydney’s attorney, Donald Malarcik, according to FOX News disagreed and said that her family wanted the court to show some leniency to the 19-year-old-convicted murderer. “The wishes of the victim are trampled upon yet again, I find [it] appalling,” he said. Adding to this, according to WKYC, Malarcik also read a letter from an Akron Children’s Hospital doctor in court, which explained how if Sydney’s mother were still alive, she “would without a doubt want the unwavering support of Sydney’s continued treatment for her mental condition in the least restrictive environment possible with as much family connection and contact as is possible,”
A tear-stricken Sydney only uttered the syllable “Yes” when Judge McLaughlin asked her if she would need the court to appoint an attorney to represent her in an appeal. Concluding the conviction, the Judge said per NBC News, “To the victim, to the family and the friends, I am terribly sorry for your loss here,” continuing, “I cannot imagine what you have been through.”