On Wednesday, September 20, in Summit County, Ohio, a 23-year-old former college student was pronounced guilty by a jury for the murder of her mother in 2020. 

The prosecutor’s office affirmed the charges against her, which include murder, felonious assault, and evidence tampering.

In the events of March 2020, Sydney Powell aggressively assaulted her mother, Brenda Powell, aged 50. She struck her mother with an iron skillet on the head and subsequently stabbed her nearly 30 times in the neck region.

The motive for this violent act was unveiled during the trial proceedings. Sydney had been expelled from college and was intent on keeping this information from her mother.

For almost three decades, Brenda Powell dedicated her service as a child life specialist at Akron Children’s Hospital. After the attack, she eventually lost her life at the same hospital.

Throughout the trial, the state of Sydney’s mental well-being became a contentious topic. She had been evaluated by three defense specialists, all of whom diagnosed her with schizophrenia. Their analysis proposed that Sydney was unable to grasp the immorality of her actions, attributing her behavior to the mental disorder. 

Countering that, Dr. Silvia O’Bradovich, a clinical psychologist, testified, asserting that Sydney’s actions weren’t consistent with a schizophrenia diagnosis.

In court, Assistant Prosecutor Brian Stano spotlighted the cruelty of the assault. He pointed out the fact that Sydney changed weapons in the course of the attack, signaling clear intent.

St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, Sydney’s alma mater, communicated their heartfelt sadness and emphasized the profound effect of this incident on both the immediate family and the wider community acquainted with both Sydney and Brenda.

The final sentencing for Sydney Powell is slated for Thursday, September 28.