Man found not guilty in fatal library stab
A 27-year-old man was found not guilty on Wednesday by reason of lack of criminal responsibility for the 2018 fatal stabbing of Deanne Stryker and slashing attack on the man who tried to stop his murderous rampage in the Winchester Public Library.
Middlesex Superior Court Judge Kathe Tuttman ordered Jeffrey Yao of Winchester to be civilly committed to Bridgewater State Hospital for stabbing the 22-year-old University of New England med student 20 times. The ruling came during a bench trial after the defendant waived his right to a jury trial.
Yao was evaluated for criminal responsibility by three experts. Each of the doctors found the defendant to lack criminal responsibility because he did not have either substantial capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct or the ability to conform his conduct to the requirements of law.
“Deanne Stryker was an amazing young woman planning a life full of promise and service. No outcome in this case can ever diminish the great tragedy of her death or fill the void left in the lives of her mother, sisters and others who loved her,” Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said in a statement.
“While today marks the end of this criminal case for the Stryker family, the brave gentleman who tried to save Deanne and the many witnesses who were in the Winchester Public Library that day,” Ryan added, “the effects of that painful day remain.”
Lester Taber, who was 77 at the time, suffered a 5-inch gash on his shoulder when he tried to stop Yao.