Hennepin County Attorney’s Office advances criminal case against Taylor Schulz

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office advanced the criminal case against Taylor Justin Schulz, 47, on Thursday.

Mr. Schulz was indicted on a first- and second-degree murder charge by a grand jury for the killing of Robert Skafte.

In the documents filed today, Mr. Schulz waived his right to a jury trial and stipulated to the existence of specific facts and evidence for the Court’s consideration. Mr. Schulz has pleaded not guilty by reason of mental illness or cognitive impairment.

Three independent psychological evaluations of Mr. Schulz returned matching opinions that he met the Minnesota Statutory requirements for mental illness and cognitive impairment at the time of the offense.

Minnesota’s legal standard for this defense is among the highest in the nation.

“Robert Skafte’s loss has devastated so many in the Loring Park community and beyond. He was an artist and an advocate for his community; I know his memory lives on in everyone who knew him,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said. “While Mr. Schulz can be returned to competence, it does not overcome the fact that multiple experts have now concluded he was mentally ill and cognitively impaired at the time of the offense.”

The next court date is scheduled for September 10 at 9 a.m.

Case Number: 27-CR-23-26390

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