SHAKOPEE, Minn — It was the ruling the family of America Thayer was dreading when they came to Scott County Court Tuesday to confront her killer: Not guilty by reason of mental illness.
"Hearing the words 'not guilty' to murdering my mother? It's really hard for me to understand. It's hard for me to explain to my family, too," said America's son, Charles Thayer, following the hearing in Scott County Court.
In May, Judge Caroline Lennon found Alexis Saborit guilty of premeditated first-degree murder for the vicious killing and beheading of America Thayer — his girlfriend — on a busy street in Shakopee at midday in July 2021.
But the case essentially involved a two-part trial, and in the second part, Judge Lennon followed the advice of two psychologists who both believed the crime was motivated by paranoid delusions that didn't allow Saborit to understand murder was morally wrong.
America's family was very upset.
"It’s tough to understand how someone can commit a cold-blooded murder, plan to do it, tell everyone they’re going to do it, have a motive to do it, then somehow be considered insane. The hardest thing for us is the 'not guilty' — the words being said that he’s 'not guilty,'” Charles said.
During the hearing, Charles placed a large, beautiful photo of his mother at the front of the courtroom before he began his victim impact statement. Saborit never once looked up.
Charles told the judge he and America came to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic, became citizens, and he looked forward to living a long life with his mom who was just 16 years older. He described their relationship almost as brother-sister.
But things started to change about seven years ago when America started dating Alexis Saborit.
"This is your typical, tell-tale abusive man, controlling man relationship for many, many years and I can't even tell you how many times the cops were called for beating the crap out of her and leaving her all bloody," Charles said.
In his victim impact statement, Charles went through the timeline of the relationship, the documented instances of abuse and how it affected their entire family.
Charles thought the escalating violence, which included threats to kill America and an arson case in which she was able to escape alive, provided proof that Saborit knew what he was doing.
America told her family she finally hoped to leave Saborit when he would go to jail for the arson case. He killed her and beheaded her with a machete on the way to a court hearing.
Judge Lennon ruled that Saborit can't be held criminally liable because of his mental state when he committed the crime. After Saborit was arrested, he told police he was convinced America Thayer was trying to kill or get rid of him.
"I just don't know what world or society we're living in anymore. I just want this to be over with for myself — and my family, more importantly — and just be able to move on and remember the good things about my mom," Charles said.
Saborit will not be released to the public. Civil commitment hearings will begin Wednesday and it is almost certain he will be committed to a hospital. He could end up staying there the rest of his life, but those details remain uncertain.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and needs help, call 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788 to be connected with someone from the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The hotline includes more options for support and identifiers of abuse on its website.
For Minnesota residents, Cornerstone MN offers resources and safe housing for domestic abuse survivors and crime victims. Call 1-866-223-1111 or chat online with the crisis hotline.
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