Psychiatrist Says Monsey Stabbing Suspect Is Mentally Unfit for Trial
A psychiatrist concluded that Grafton Thomas, who is accused of stabbing five people at a Hanukkah party on Dec. 28 in Monsey, N.Y., is mentally ill and therefore not able to stand trial.
Michael Sussman, Thomas’ attorney, made the announcement on Jan. 27. Federal prosecutors have two weeks to respond.
Sussman has asserted since Thomas’ arrest the day after the stabbings, that his client has a history of mental illness. As an example, Sussman pointed to Thomas being arrested in September when his mother — with whom he lived at the time — called 911 in response to Thomas slicing a chicken with a knife. Thomas was arrested when an officer ordered him to put down the knife but he refused to do so. He was subsequently diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. He was subsequently released, according to Patch.com.
Additionally, Sussman also has stated that Thomas told him that he has heard voices in his head.
Thomas’ family has similarly claimed in a statement to CNN that he is mentally ill and never has expressed any anti-Semitic beliefs.
“We believe the actions of which he is accused, if committed by him, tragically reflect profound mental illness for which … [for] Grafton has received episodic treatment before being released,” they said.
Federal prosecutors said on Dec. 30 that they discovered journals written by Thomas containing a swastika and references to Adolf Hitler and he searched for “Zionist temples” near him on his phone. Sussman has said that he found evidence supporting his client’s case in a vacant cabin that Thomas once inhabited. Prosecutors are demanding that Sussman hand over the evidence.
Thomas faces federal hate crime charges as well as charges of attempted murder. He pled not guilty to all charges.
One of the victims, 72-year-old Josef Neumann, currently is in a coma.
JJ Inside The Print
In a stunning turn of history, a tiny virus has united humanity. Suddenly, every human is fighting the same enemy. Tribal and sectarian rivalries that...
As Americans adapt to the new normal of social distancing and stay-at-home orders, videoconferencing has become our lifeline. The likes of Zoom and FaceTime helps...
Over the years I have sent (and received) numerous invitations that said, “In lieu of presents, your presence is your gift.” And I meant it. I...
“How did you do it?” I asked my mother a few days after our kids’ schools closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Do what?” she responded....
“They want to audition you on the phone to play a new character — the mother of your “Rugrats” cartoon mother Didi — a grandmother from the...
The very essence Passover is based on an understanding that it is spent in the company of others. The concept of someone spending the holiday...
Can we “manifest” reality? My daughter, the Vegan Hippie Queen, believes so. She always says if you envision what you really want or need, the...
Many of us celebrate the launch of Passover with seder meals and a wide array of special guests: family, friends, colleagues and dear souls who...
Kicking off the first month of our Hebrew calendar with Nisan’s new moon, we usher in a time of seasonal rebalance and realignment. Amid a...
On all other Passovers, we might have celebrated with family and friends. On all other Passovers, memories of growing up around the seder table, once...
In the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial, a boisterous boy named Elliott darted away from his parents as they pushed their two younger sons in...
By now, commentators have noted the similarities between our coronavirus crisis and the classic “trolley problem,” first formulated by the late philosopher Philippa Foot. Imagine...
As teenagers, it is hard to comprehend the irreparable mark this coronavirus will have on our generation. We are in the middle of a tremendous...
The Hebrew word for coalition is “Ya’chdah” — from the word “Ya’chad.” Together. A coalition of parties is supposed to find a sense of togetherness...
Yacov Amsalem’s business partner called from the United Kingdom and said, “We’re on the BBC!” The news item was about stranded British vacationers in the...
“What is the secret sauce that holds a family together?” “What are the ingredients that make some families effective, resilient and happy?” In the age...
Why is this Passover different from all other Passovers? No one really needs to ask. Our Passover plans have been totally upended. We’re worried about...
I come here tonight, weary, bereft, filled with fear From a week of terrifying unknowns ever so near, A hidden yet overwhelming enemy abides Throughout...
One verse, five voices. Edited by Salvador Litvak, the Accidental Talmudist The wicked one, what does he say? “What is this service to you?” He...
In the Song of Songs, an allegory of the love between God and Israel, King Solomon extols the fruit of the land — apples, figs,...
Shortly after de Toledo High School closed on March 10 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and moved to virtual learning, Head of School Mark Shpall...
When the haggadah asks: “How is this night different from all other nights?” this year’s unprecedented answers are painfully obvious. With everyone on lockdown, the coronavirus defies the...
With stay-at-home orders in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, Passover is shaping up to be a more solitary and low-key holiday this year. And...
Anti-Defamation League (ADL) CEO Jonathan Greenblatt held a virtual panel on March 26 discussing xenophobia and anti-Semitism in the age of coronavirus with Reps. Debbie...
Although the emergence of the coronavirus has made things seem bleak, there’s an upside to being trapped inside to avoid a raging pandemic: You finally...
At a time when comedy clubs are closed and there’s not a lot to laugh about, stand-up comic Stephen Kramer Glickman has released a hilarious...
A neurotic, tactless, middle-aged Jewish guy perpetually gets himself into hilariously awkward situations of his own making in “The Jewish Enquirer,” now available on Amazon....
Several books and films have told the story of the 10,000 Jewish children who were spirited out of Europe during World War II on Kindertransport...
“Welcoming Elijah: A Passover Tale with a Tail,” by Lesléa Newman. Illustrated by Susan Gal. Charlesbridge Publishing, 2020. It is a well-known fact that prolific...
Randi Alfasso died March 15 at 63. Survived by husband Albert; sons Adam, Mathew; sister Debbie Fell; brother Ron Ganzfried. Mount Sinai Leonard Beezy died...
I’ve always been a homebody, so even before it was required for us to shelter in place during the pandemic, “Let’s Stay Home” was my...
Nearly two weeks ago, Boston writer and strategic communications professional Jordan Namerow was driving her 4-year-old son, Lior, to school when he started asking about...
Jewish National Fund (JNF) has launched a suite of live and on-demand videos to help older members of the community feel connected. On March 24,...
