California Woman Convicted Of Stabbing BF 108 Times Because She Was High, Receives Probation
Feb 08, 12:00 AM
Ventura County Star reports that Bryn Spejcher, [SPEE-chur] 33, convicted of fatally stabbing her boyfriend, Chad O'Melia, 26, 108 times during a "cannabis-induced psychosis," was handed a two-year probation and 100 hours of community service on Tuesday.
Spejcher did not contest her guilt in the gruesome murder that occurred on Memorial Day 2018 in Thousand Oaks. She was found covered in blood, gripping a knife next to O'Melia's lifeless body, and subsequently attempted to take her own life before being interrupted by law enforcement.
Ventura County Superior Court Judge David Worley ruled that Spejcher "had no control over her actions" during the psychotic episode triggered by a marijuana bong hit. Experts from both the prosecution and defense supported the claim that the cannabis-induced episode led to the violent outburst.
"The more she stabbed him, the more she felt she was bringing herself back to life," the prosecutor told the jury. Spejcher believed that killing O'Melia was the only way to revive herself after thinking she was dead.
Spejcher's lawyers argued that she became "involuntarily intoxicated" after being pressured by O'Melia to take a second bong hit, to which she had an adverse reaction. Under California law, a person is generally responsible for their actions when impaired by drugs or alcohol unless their intoxication is involuntary.
During the sentencing on Tuesday, Spejcher sobbed in court as she apologized to the victim's father, Sean O'Melia, expressing remorse for tearing the family apart.
Chad O'Melia's father accused Judge Worley of bias and claimed the ruling set a dangerous precedent, stating, "He just gave everyone in the state of California who smokes marijuana a license to kill someone."
"There is no winner in this tragedy," said Brendan O'Melia, the victim's uncle. "There can be, however, accountability."
Spejcher's lawyer, Bob Schwartz, praised Worley's ruling as the "right and courageous thing."
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Spejcher did not contest her guilt in the gruesome murder that occurred on Memorial Day 2018 in Thousand Oaks. She was found covered in blood, gripping a knife next to O'Melia's lifeless body, and subsequently attempted to take her own life before being interrupted by law enforcement.
Ventura County Superior Court Judge David Worley ruled that Spejcher "had no control over her actions" during the psychotic episode triggered by a marijuana bong hit. Experts from both the prosecution and defense supported the claim that the cannabis-induced episode led to the violent outburst.
"The more she stabbed him, the more she felt she was bringing herself back to life," the prosecutor told the jury. Spejcher believed that killing O'Melia was the only way to revive herself after thinking she was dead.
Spejcher's lawyers argued that she became "involuntarily intoxicated" after being pressured by O'Melia to take a second bong hit, to which she had an adverse reaction. Under California law, a person is generally responsible for their actions when impaired by drugs or alcohol unless their intoxication is involuntary.
During the sentencing on Tuesday, Spejcher sobbed in court as she apologized to the victim's father, Sean O'Melia, expressing remorse for tearing the family apart.
Chad O'Melia's father accused Judge Worley of bias and claimed the ruling set a dangerous precedent, stating, "He just gave everyone in the state of California who smokes marijuana a license to kill someone."
"There is no winner in this tragedy," said Brendan O'Melia, the victim's uncle. "There can be, however, accountability."
Spejcher's lawyer, Bob Schwartz, praised Worley's ruling as the "right and courageous thing."
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com