In a shocking incident at a Minneapolis grocery store, a man has been deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial for the murder of an employee. Taylor Justin Schulz, 44, was charged with second-degree murder in the death of 66-year-old Robert Skafte, who was found impaled with a golf club on December 8. Judicial Officer Danielle Mercurio ruled on Schulz’s mental competency evaluation, based on the opinion of a psychological examiner.
The victim, Skafte, had been a clerk at Oak Grove Grocery for almost two decades and was also an acclaimed ballet dancer. Schulz resided in an apartment across the street and had been evicted just a week before the incident. Court records reveal that Schulz had a history of assaulting other apartment residents.
Schulz’s public defender, Emmett Donnelly, stated that they had no reason to dispute the examiner’s opinion, acknowledging Schulz’s history of mental illness. Schulz has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and self-reported post-traumatic stress disorder, receiving treatment and services through Veterans Affairs in the past. He had previously been civilly committed for six months in 2021 due to a high risk of further psychiatric deterioration.
The case has raised concerns about mental health and its impact on criminal proceedings. Mercurio’s ruling means that Schulz will not face trial for the murder charge at this time. However, civil commitment proceedings may be pursued as an alternative.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has not yet provided a comment on the ruling. Schulz remains in jail with a $1 million bond and is scheduled for a court hearing in July. The tragic incident serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by individuals with mental illnesses and the need for appropriate support and treatment.
