April 26--Attorneys for a Naperville woman accused of murdering her young son and another child in her care have indicated they will mount an insanity defense for their client.
Public defenders representing Elzbieta Plackowska officially notified DuPage County prosecutors of their intentions at her court appearance Friday, Assistant Public Defender Michael Mara said Monday.
Although no trial date has been set in the case, Plackowska's attorneys said they will not contest the charges, but rather would present evidence that her actions were mitigated by her mental state.
Plackowska, 43, has been in custody since she was charged with first-degree murder in the Oct. 30, 2012, deaths of her son, Justin Plackowski, 7, and Olivia Dworakowski, 5, in the Naperville townhouse on Quin Court where Olivia lived with her mother.
Naperville police Chief Robert Marshall called the children's slayings one of the "most horrific and gruesome crime scenes" he had seen. Justin was stabbed more than 100 times and Olivia, whom Plackowska was baby-sitting, had about 50 stab wounds.
If Plackowska is found not guilty by reason of insanity, she could be confined to a state mental hospital, rather than prison. But if the insanity defense were to be rejected at trial, Plackowska could be found guilty and automatically receive a natural life sentence in prison.
A person found not guilty by reason of insanity can be involuntarily committed for a period that corresponds with the maximum sentence if found guilty. People judged not guilty by reason of insanity can petition for release, which must be approved by a judge following a hearing.
DuPage prosecutors, anticipating an insanity defense, had Plackowska evaluated by two psychologists. Her attorneys turned over their reports to prosecutors on Friday, along with a forensic psychiatrist's videotaped interview with Plackowska.
In police interviews, according to authorities, Plackowska initially said a stalker broke into the home and killed the children, and then said she heard demonic voices and killed the children to save their souls and "drive the evil out of them."
But Plackowska also said she killed her son because she was angry at her husband, and Olivia because she was a witness, authorities said.
The case is due back in court on May 27.
Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter.
