Innocent but insane woman hospitalized for son's death

ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) - A Rockford, Illinois woman found not guilty by reason of insanity in the stabbing death of her 8-year-old son will be hospitalized for life.

Jody Kossow will be confined in the care of the Illinois Department of Human services for 100 years. She was sentenced Tuesday by Winnebago County Circuit Judge John Lowry.

In rendering his verdict in January, Lowry cited psychiatric reports that found Kossow was criminally insane when she stabbed her son to death in September 2013. Psychiatrists also said she thought witchcraft was involved in her son's birth and he was a danger to the family. The boy was found stabbed multiple times in the driveway of their home.

State's Attorney Joe Bruscato says under Illinois law, a person found not guilty by reason of insanity must be sentenced to the maximum penalty they could have received had they been convicted of the offense.

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Source: WREX-Rockford, http://bit.ly/2olt5Hb

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Information from: Rockford Register Star, http://www.rrstar.com