Todd William Schneider Found Guilty Except For Insanity After Stabbing A Man 17 Times -04/13/20

April 13, 2020

Todd William Schneider found guilty except for insanity after stabbing a man 17 times

Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill announced that 27-year-old Todd William Schneider received a sentence that commits him to the Oregon State Hospital after being found guilty except for insanity for attempting to murder a man by stabbing him 17 times.

“Remarkably, even after being stabbed that many times by Todd Schneider, the victim used his strength to get help from neighbors who called 9-1-1,” said Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Todd Jackson, who prosecuted this case. “Today, because of the immediate efforts of the police officers, paramedics, firefighters, nurses and doctors, the victim is largely physically recovered. However, the emotional trauma inflicted because of this attack has forever changed the victim.”

Schneider will be placed under the jurisdiction of the Oregon Psychiatric Security Review Board (PSRB) for a maximum period of 20 years.

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office was in regular contact with the victim throughout all stages of this case. He understands and has accepted this resolution based on the court’s findings.

On Monday March 30, 2020, a Multnomah County Circuit Court judge found Schneider guilty except for insanity of one count of attempted murder, one count of assault in the first degree and one count of unlawful use of a weapon.

This investigation started on May 27, 2018 when Portland Police received information about a stabbing in the area of Northeast 122nd Avenue and Northeast Siskiyou Street. Officers arrived and located the victim – who had been stabbed in the face, head, arms and torso – soaked in blood from head to toe.

During the investigation, law enforcement learned that the victim saw Schneider setting up a camp on Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) property. The victim approached Schneider and asked him to move. While speaking with the victim, Schneider suddenly reached into his backpack, pulled out a large hunting knife and started stabbing the victim multiple times.

After breaking free from the attack, the victim staggered to a neighbor’s home looking for help, banged on the door and then collapsed. The people inside checked their doorbell camera and could see the victim on the ground profusely bleeding, in dire need of assistance and called 9-1-1.

At the hospital, doctors determined the victim sustained 17 stab wounds.

Under Oregon law, a person is guilty except for insanity (GEI) if, as a result of a qualifying mental disorder at the time of engaging in criminal conduct, they lack substantial capacity either to appreciate the criminality of the conduct or to conform the conduct to the requirements of law.

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office recognizes Portland Police Officers Tom Chong, Timothy Larsen, Mark Kelly, Scherise Hobbs, Carl Weldon, Bryan Anderson, Delton Stroh, and David Goettsch for their dedicated efforts responding to, providing immediate medical first aid to the victim and investigating this case. We recognize PPB Detective Tony Harris who served as lead investigator.  

We also recognize Victim Advocates Julie Jacobs and Tabitha Smith for the advocacy and support they provided the victim throughout this case.

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Contact: Brent Weisberg, Communications Director 
Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office
Phone: 503.988.6567 | Email: Brent.Weisberg@mcda.us