Woman Guilty But Mentally Ill In Stabbing Death Of Sister

KANE COUNTY, IL – A 56-year-old Carpentersville woman pleaded guilty but mentally ill Friday to stabbing her older sister to death in 2014, prosecutors said. Sandra L. Baumgartner entered the plea to the first-degree murder charge for the Sept. 29, 2014, stabbing death of Sharon Baumgartner, 57, of Carpentersville. Baumgartner now faces between 20 to 60 years in prison when she is sentenced at 1:30 p.m. on May 17 at the Kane County Judicial Center.

Prosecutors said Baumgartner, of the 100 block of South Lincoln Avenue in Carpentersville, stabbed her sister multiple times with a knife in September 2014. A psychologist later diagnosed Sandra Baumgartner with schizophrenic affective disorder bi-polar type, according to authorities.

In this case, the finding of guilty but mentally ill means that the defendant may receive appropriate mental health treatment as available from Illinois Department of Corrections, according to the Kane County State's Attorney's Office.

Baumgartner whose bail has been set at $1 million, remains in custody at the Kane County Jail.

Photo via the Kane County State's Attorney's Office