In a tragic and shocking case, an illegal alien from Cuba, who had been released into the United States in 2012 from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, was found not guilty of beheading his girlfriend due to mental illness.
The accused, Alexi Saborit-Viltres, had been charged with second-degree murder in 2021 after allegedly beheading his girlfriend, America Mafalda Thayer, and dumping her body on the street in Shakopee, Minnesota.
Eyewitnesses to the horrific incident reported seeing Saborit-Viltres pull Thayer out of the car and then decapitate her in broad daylight.
When apprehended by the authorities, he admitted to the murder, claiming that Thayer had expressed a desire to end their relationship, which he believed had gone too far.
Earlier this year, Saborit-Viltres was found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder, potentially facing a life sentence.
However, on Monday, a judge ruled that his mental illness prevented him from understanding the moral wrongfulness of his actions, leading to a reversal of the conviction.
Judge Caroline Lennon cited assessments by psychologists who concluded that Saborit-Viltres’ mental illness impaired his ability to comprehend the moral consequences of his actions.
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The defense team argued that his previous hospitalizations for bizarre delusions, as well as a traumatic brain injury and subsequent hallucinations following a car crash, demonstrated his compromised mental state.
Saborit-Viltres had a history of mental illness, including diagnoses of psychosis and delusions.
Reports indicate that he had been hospitalized in 2013 for his delusions, and in May 2020, he was admitted to a hospital due to a belief that there was a camera in his head.
It is worth noting that Saborit-Viltres was supposed to be deported a decade ago, but ICE agents were unable to obtain the necessary travel documents.
America Mafalda Thayer, the victim of this brutal crime, was a hardworking employee at My Pillow, a company founded by Mike Lindell.
Thayer had legally immigrated to the United States and became a naturalized American citizen, changing her name to “America” as a symbol of her pride in her new country.
This case has highlighted the complexities surrounding mental illness and its impact on criminal responsibility.
While the ruling has spared Saborit-Viltres from a potential life sentence, it has also raised questions and concerns about the safety of communities and the treatment of individuals with severe mental health issues.
