Bloomington man ruled not guilty by reason of insanity in parent’s deaths

Posted on February 27, 2017

Brian Petersen faced a stipulated bench trial Monday afternoon. (Pool photo)

By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – A Bloomington man has been ruled not guilty by reason of insanity on charges he murdered his parents in 2016.

McLean County Judge Robert Freitag ruled during a stipulated bench trial Monday evidence shows Brian Petersen, 25, did commit the crimes which resulted in Bruce and Nancy Petersen’s deaths, but he was not sane at the time of the murders.

“He was suffering from what I believe was termed paranoid schizophrenia, and so that does indicate he was hearing some voices to help tell him what to do,” said Prosecutor Brad Rigdon. “He was, essentially, very delusional and not in his right mind.

“(He) didn’t understand that what he was doing was murdering his parents in a way that was a crime. The quote that was contained in the stipulation was that he thought he was saving them from the darkness.”

Not long after first being arrested, Brian Petersen was ruled not fit to stand trial. He was sent to receive treatment until it was believed he could understand the charges against him.

Brian Petersen is being sent to the Department of Human Services for a 30 day evaluation. The department will then recommend a treatment plan.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

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