Minnesota – In a disturbing Minnesota case that drew widespread outrage, a 65‑year‑old mother, identified as J. Myhre-Schnell, who admitted she tried to kill her disabled 34-year-old son, has now been sentenced, and the punishment has sparked fierce criticism from prosecutors. The mother, who previously confessed to crushing 31 anti‑anxiety pills and emptying the mixture into her son’s feeding bag in December 2023, will serve just three years in prison, far below the nearly two‑decade sentence the state had sought.
Myhre‑Schnell pleaded guilty in July to attempted first‑degree murder for trying to overdose her son, a ventilator‑dependent man with spina bifida who uses a wheelchair and requires 24‑hour medical care while living at a group home. As part of her plea agreement, prosecutors dismissed an aggravating factor alleging her son was “particularly vulnerable,” a condition that would have significantly increased her sentencing exposure. Despite the severity of the crime, the presiding judge declined to impose the 18‑year sentence requested by the state. Prosecutors openly criticized the decision, saying the defendant “systematically tried to kill her disabled son — her own child” and had shown “little to no remorse.” They added, “A 36-month sentence for attempted murder is why people feel the justice system is flawed.”
The crime occurred on December 3, 2023, at the group home where the victim was living. According to the probable cause affidavit, Myhre‑Schnell told investigators she visited her son that night carrying a slurry made from her freshly refilled lorazepam prescription. She admitted she crushed 31 pills, mixed them with water, and secretly emptied the liquid into his feeding bag, telling herself she was “hoping he would go to sleep forever.” Throughout the night, according to her own statements, she battled with the reality of what she was doing: “All night, I was like, am I really doing this? Am I doing this? Am I doing this? I can’t believe I’m doing this.”
The overdose caused her son to go into respiratory failure, but he survived thanks to staff who immediately provided medical intervention. Following the incident, Myhre‑Schnell later reported feeling resentful that her son lived, telling investigators she “completely regretted he survived.” She feared toxicology testing would expose her attempt and acknowledged she knew she would “go to jail.” The crime did not fully come to light until June 2024, when she openly admitted to investigators that she had tried to kill her son. In August, she even sent him a text message confessing she had spiked his feeding bag, again saying she hoped he would “go to sleep forever.” Her son responded that he was still “processing” the revelation, telling investigators the confession felt “heavy” and “a lot to process.” Despite everything, he added, “I made it, I’m still here.”
Myhre‑Schnell was in the middle of divorce proceedings from Minnesota Department of Corrections Commissioner P. Schnell at the time of her arrest in August 2024. After the incident became known, he finalized the divorce and obtained an order of protection for himself and their son. Throughout the investigation, authorities emphasized that the victim enjoyed his life, liked his residence, had friends, volunteered weekly at the zoo, and had access to the support he needed. Detectives said the defendant repeatedly admitted her actions during multiple interviews and provided extensive details on how she carried out the attempted murder.
The sheriff’s office described the case as profoundly troubling due to the victim’s extreme vulnerability and the mother’s calculated efforts to end his life. State sentencing guidelines allowed for a sentence between 12¾ and 18 years, but the judge opted for just 36 months, citing no explanation for the downward departure. The victim himself asked the court for leniency, which may have influenced the final decision. Myhre‑Schnell will serve two‑thirds of her sentence in prison, with the remainder on supervised release. For now, the victim continues receiving care, his resilience standing in stark contrast to the betrayal inflicted by the person he should have been safest with.
