Executive Summary
- Taylor Schabusiness was sentenced to 90 days in jail for attacking a prison guard in 2024.
- She is already serving a life sentence for the 2022 murder of Shad Thyrion.
- The attack involved the use of a food tray and metal table as weapons against staff.
- Schabusiness pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct charges related to the incident.
FOND DU LAC, Wis. — Taylor Schabusiness, who is currently serving a life sentence for the 2022 murder of Shad Thyrion, was sentenced Monday to 90 days in jail for a 2024 attack on a prison guard in Fond du Lac County.
According to court records, Schabusiness appeared before Judge Anthony Nehls in a Fond du Lac County courtroom for the sentencing hearing. She had previously pleaded no contest to a charge of disorderly conduct in October in connection with the incident.
Prosecutors stated in the criminal complaint that the altercation began when Schabusiness informed staff she had a staple in her arm. When a nurse attempted to remove the object with tweezers, Schabusiness reportedly lunged at the medical staff member. A correctional officer intervened, at which point authorities say Schabusiness struck the guard in the head with a food tray and swung a metal table at her.
During the hearing, Prosecutor Tessa Button presented body camera footage documenting the assault, which showed Schabusiness lunging despite the officer’s repeated commands to stop resisting. Defense attorney Christopher Froelich requested a minimum sentence of 10 days, citing his client’s existing life sentence, severe mental health struggles, and drug addiction. “I think my client does want to become a better person,” Froelich told the court.
Judicial Outcomes and Correctional Safety
The imposition of a 90-day sentence on an inmate already serving life without parole serves primarily as a formal legal resolution rather than a practical extension of incarceration. However, the proceedings highlight the ongoing security challenges within correctional facilities regarding inmates with histories of extreme violence and mental instability. The resolution of this case through a plea to disorderly conduct allows the judicial system to close the file efficiently while acknowledging the offense. For correctional administrators, the incident reinforces the critical need for heightened security protocols during routine medical procedures involving high-risk populations.
