Killing of Brenda Powell

Brenda Powell, 50, was found critically injured during a welfare check at her Akron, Ohio, home on March 3, 2020. Officers had been sent to the house after a University of Mount Union employee heard screaming during a telephone call and could not re-establish contact. Powell was taken to Cleveland Clinic Akron General Medical Center, where she died. She had worked for Akron Children's Hospital for 28 years, including in a center serving children with cancer and blood disorders. [Cleveland 19](https://www.cleveland19.com/2020/03/04/akron-woman-stabbed-death-by-her-year-old-daughter-police-say/)

Authorities charged Powell's 19-year-old daughter, Sydney Powell, with the killing. Medical evidence later described Brenda Powell's death as resulting from multiple sharp- and blunt-force injuries. At trial, Sydney Powell did not dispute causing the fatal injuries but pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The central contested issue became whether a severe mental disease prevented her from understanding the wrongfulness of her conduct. [News 5 Cleveland](https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/sydney-powell-found-guilty-of-mothers-2020-slaying)

A Summit County jury rejected the insanity defense in September 2023 and found Sydney Powell guilty of two murder counts, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence. The trial court imposed a life sentence with parole eligibility after 15 years. Three defense experts had supported the insanity defense; the state's expert disagreed and criticized their methods during rebuttal testimony. The trial judge then refused a defense request to recall its experts to answer that critique. [Court News Ohio](https://www.courtnewsohio.gov/cases/previews/26/0107/0107.asp)

On December 26, 2024, Ohio's Ninth District Court of Appeals reversed the convictions. The appellate panel concluded that the state's expert introduced new methodological criticism and that the defense had a right to present rebuttal testimony addressing it. The court did not decide Powell's other appellate claims; it remanded the case to the trial court for further proceedings. The reversal was procedural and did not amount to a finding that Sydney Powell did not cause her mother's death. [Ninth District Court of Appeals](https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/9/2024/2024-Ohio-6013.pdf)

The state appealed that ruling to the Supreme Court of Ohio, which heard argument in January 2026 over the scope of rebuttal evidence and harmless-error review. As of July 2026, no final Supreme Court disposition was documented.