Psych tests ordered for Carpentersville woman accused of killing sister
A psychological evaluation has been ordered for Sandra L. Baumgartner, the 54-year-old woman accused of stabbing her sister to death in Carpentersville in September 2014.
The Kane County Diagnostic Center will perform the evaluation on Baumgartner, who faces first-degree murder charges in the stabbing death of her sister, Sharon, 57.
Sandra was found not guilty by reason of insanity for a 2001 murder.
The sisters lived in separate apartments in a building on the 100 block of South Lincoln Avenue and authorities were called to the building at about 5:45 p.m. Sept. 29 by neighbors for a disturbance.
Authorities found Sharon bleeding and later arrested Sandra Baumgartner in a nearby wooded area.
According to prosecutors and court records, Sandra Baumgartner received intensive outpatient treatment after being found not guilty by reason of insanity in the April 2001 death of a man in Memphis, Tennessee, who was stabbed 120 times. Her attorney said she suffered from schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type.
An appeals court in 2013 reaffirmed that Baumgartner should remain in intensive outpatient treatment and live with her parents.
The ruling came after numerous psychiatrists, psychologists, doctors and other medical personnel testified in a 2002 hearing that Baumgartner was not an immediate danger to society.
Baumgartner has been held at the Kane County jail on $1 million bail since her arrest and she must post $100,000 to be released while the charges are pending.
if convicted, she faces between 20 and 60 years in prison.
Baumgartner is next due in court on Jan. 8.