32-year-old Bryn Spejcher was sentenced to two years of felony probation and no prison time for the 2018 killing of 26-year-old accountant Chad O’Melia in Thousand Oaks, California. She plead guilty to manslaughter on December 2, 2023.
On May 27, 2018, Spejcher went to O’Melia’s apartment where they both took several hits from a bong filled with marijuana. Spejcher experienced an adverse reaction from the marijuana and suffered from Cannabis-Induced Psychotic Disorder.
During that psychotic break, she stabbed O’Melia 108 times, eventually killing him. She also stabbed herself repeatedly.
The next morning, officers arrived at the apartment to find O’Melia in a pool of blood and Spejcher screaming hysterically while still holding a knife in her hands.
As officers tried to disarm her, Spejcher plunged the knife into her neck, authorities said.
“Officers used a taser and several baton blows before they were able to finally disarm Spejcher,” police said. “A long-serrated bread knife was taken from her hands.”
O’Melia was pronounced dead at the scene.
Spejcher has been out on bail since the murder happened.
Spejcher, who had only been dating the victim for a few weeks, was found to have stabbed O’Melia 108 times with three different knives.
She faced up to four years in prison along with sentence enhancements, though the judge ruled that given the facts, he didn’t believe it was warranted.
The judge cited evidence and expert testimony, also saying Spejcher did not know marijuana would have this type of effect on her when she smoked with O’Melia that night.
If Spejcher violates her probation, the judge said she will have to do four years of prison time. She was also sentenced to 100 hours of community service.
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