West Virginia Postpartum Psychosis Case Resolved by Insanity Finding
Case summary
On December 30, 2022, Brunecz fatally stabbed her 3-month-old daughter at her Weston, West Virginia apartment and seriously injured herself; when first responders arrived she told medical staff what she had done. She was charged with murder and indicted in July 2023. The child's father publicly described her worsening postpartum psychosis in the days before the offense and said she had sought medical help the previous day. According to subsequent case reporting, she was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 2024 and committed for psychiatric treatment. The case has been cited as an example of how quickly postpartum psychosis can escalate despite contact with the health care system.
Mental-health context
The baby's father told reporters Brunecz had been suffering from postpartum psychosis since the birth, was hearing voices and unable to sleep in the days before the offense, and had seen her doctor the day before, leaving with a prescription for depression and anxiety.
Status / outcome
Reported not guilty by reason of insanity (2024); committed for psychiatric treatment
Sources
- https://www.wdtv.com/2023/01/21/woman-charged-with-fatally-stabbing-3-month-old-weston/
- https://wvmetronews.com/2023/07/11/weston-woman-indicted-in-stabbing-death-of-daughter/
- https://wvmetronews.com/2023/02/05/father-in-lewis-county-baby-stabbing-death-speaks-out/
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