Thief River Falls Woman Guilty in Knife Assault

THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. (trfnews.i234.me) — A Pennington County judge found Edwina Marie Stoutenburgh guilty of felony second-degree assault.

The case involved a July 20, 2025, knife attack on a sleeping boy near Thief River Falls.

Judge Tamara Yon filed the verdict on June 18, 2026.

Yon ruled that Stoutenburgh, 35, failed to prove a mental illness defense.

The judge dismissed a separate attempted second-degree murder charge without intent.

Yon found that charge legally impossible because an attempt requires proof of intent.

A telephone scheduling conference is set for July 9, 2026.

Sentencing is expected after that conference.

Children Left the Home

Court records say Stoutenburgh’s husband called 911 shortly after 7 a.m.

He had received a call saying a child’s throat had been cut.

Four children were found inside a vehicle near the home.

They told authorities Stoutenburgh had tried to cut the boy’s throat.

Court documents described several red, raised marks across the boy’s neck.

The marks were consistent with repeated contact from a dull knife.

The children had left the home after Stoutenburgh gave them vehicle keys.

She told investigators that voices and demons were controlling her actions.

She also said she did not want to hurt anyone.

Stoutenburgh was later taken to Sanford Medical Center.

Two psychologists examined Stoutenburgh separately during the case.

Dr. Craig Stevens diagnosed schizophreniform disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.

Dr. Tricia Sudenga diagnosed schizoaffective disorder, depressed type.

Sudenga also reported signs of cannabis use disorder.

Both psychologists believed Stoutenburgh did not understand her actions or their wrongfulness.

Yon rejected those conclusions after reviewing the stipulated evidence.

The judge cited Stoutenburgh’s detailed memory of taking a knife into the boy’s room.

Stoutenburgh recalled moving the sleeping boy and using the knife against his neck.

She also described the event as wrong and awful.

Yon found those statements showed Stoutenburgh understood the nature of her actions.

The judge also noted Stoutenburgh tried to protect the other children.

She stopped on a stairway and told them to leave the house.

She then gave them keys so they could drive away.

Yon found Stoutenburgh was experiencing psychosis during the incident.

However, the judge found the illness did not fully block her understanding.

The ruling said Stoutenburgh knew the knife could cut the boy.

Yon also found she understood the assault was morally wrong.

Those findings allowed the court to hold Stoutenburgh criminally responsible.

The boy’s name was not released because he is a minor.

Public case information may be available through Minnesota Court Records Online.

Minnesota’s second-degree assault law is available through the Revisor of Statutes.

I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.