Pennington County Orders Eval In Attempted Murder Case

Pennington County (trfnews.i234.me) – A Thief River Falls woman accused of trying to kill a child will undergo a court-ordered mental health evaluation.

Charges And Allegations

According to a criminal complaint, Edwina Marie Stoutenburgh, 34, faces two felony counts.
She is charged with attempted second-degree murder without intent.
She is also charged with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon.
The case remains open in Pennington County District Court.

The complaint says Stoutenburgh is accused of going to a sleeping boy’s bedroom.
Investigators say she took a knife from the kitchen.
She allegedly tried to cut the boy’s throat as he slept.
The knife did not fully cut his neck, but marks were seen.
The complaint does not state the child’s age.

Mental Health Evaluation Ordered

Court records say the defense asked for a mental illness and cognitive impairment evaluation.
At a hearing on November 7, the judge approved that request.
The prosecutor did not object to the exam.

Defense attorneys also asked that the evaluation be done in person.
They said remote exams can raise accuracy concerns.
The court will contact approved evaluators to see who can meet in person.
More information on these exams is available from the Minnesota Judicial Branch.

Statements In The Complaint

The charges stem from a July 20 report to the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies first found several juveniles inside a vehicle near a rural home.
They checked the children and believed they were safe.
They then went to the residence itself.

According to the complaint, deputies found Stoutenburgh outside the home.
She was wearing very little clothing and was quickly detained.
The complaint says she made several strange comments.
She reportedly said “they” made her do various things.
Later, she said “they” referred to demons or voices she believed were present.

Stoutenburgh was taken to Sanford Medical Center for evaluation.
At the hospital, she told staff she woke up feeling “demons” taking control of her body.
She said these voices told her to do disturbing acts with an already dead duck.
She also said the voices told her to eat things that were not food.

The complaint says Stoutenburgh reported that the voices then focused on the children.
She allegedly said “they” told her to grab a kitchen knife.
She went to the boy’s upstairs bedroom and rolled him over.
She said she tried to cut his throat with the same knife.
She told investigators the knife was too dull and only left marks.

According to the complaint, the voices then told her to sharpen the knife.
She said the voices told her to hurt all of the children, then her husband, and then herself.
She sharpened the knife, but stopped in the stairwell.
The children became upset, and she eventually gave them the vehicle keys to leave.

Deputies later searched the home with consent from her husband.
They found a severed duck head on a cutting board next to a bloodied spoon.
A kitchen knife with what appeared to be blood was in the sink.
The child had marks on his neck but survived.
More information on Minnesota attempted murder laws is available on the Minnesota statute site.

Next Steps In Pennington County Court

The mental health evaluation will look at Stoutenburgh’s condition and thinking.
Results can affect how the case moves forward.
They may address her mental state at the time of the incident.
They may also address whether she can fully understand the court process.

Second-degree assault and attempted second-degree murder are serious felonies.
Possible penalties are listed in Minnesota Statute 609.19 and Minnesota Statute 609.222.

Future hearings and filings will appear on the Minnesota trial court public access site.
People who struggle with voices, paranoia, or other mental health symptoms
can find help and support through groups like NAMI.

At this stage, Edwina Marie Stoutenburgh is presumed innocent.
She remains innocent unless and until she is found guilty in court.

I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.