Woman accused of killing mom enters insanity plea

9/13/2007

FINDLAY A rural Arcadia, Ohio, woman charged with killing her mother and trying to kill her partner entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity yesterday in Hancock County Common Pleas Court.

Linda Brown, 37, is charged with aggravated murder for the June 28 death of Winifred Brown, 75, and attempted murder for attacking Jill Darnell, 49, in the Cass Township home that the three women shared.

Investigators said Ms. Brown also tried to kill herself.

The court will refer her for a psychiatric examination, and then a court hearing will be held to determine whether she was insane at the time of the crimes.

Ms. Brown is being held in the Hancock County jail in lieu of a $1 million bond, and is being represented by Jerry McHenry of the state public defender s office.