Alleged Prom Killer May Be Psychotic, Lawyer Says

A teenager charged with fatally stabbing a classmate on the day of their high school prom is showing signs of active psychosis, his attorney said Friday.

Christopher Plaskon made his first court appearance Friday after he allegedly stabbed Maren Sanchez to death in the hallway of Jonathan Law High School in Milford, Conn., last month. Police are investigating whether the stabbing was related to Sanchez’s refusal to be Plaskon’s prom date. The stabbing occurred on the morning of prom.

Plaskon’s attorney Richard Meehan said the boy may be psychotic. “I do believe he’s sick,” Meehan told the Associated Press. “Obviously what we don’t want to see another tragedy on top of the one that has already taken place here. We want to make sure that this young man is appropriately maintained while we do our job.”

Plaskon appeared to show no emotion in the hearing, and was wearing handcuffs and leg shackles, the AP reports. He will be sent to Manson Youth Institution in Cheshire, where he will be placed on suicide watch as he awaits his next court hearing. Witnesses saw Plaskon on top of Sanchez during the attack, and tried to pull him off her, authorities say. A bloodied Plaskon was taken to the principals office, where police say he told one officer: “I did it. Just arrest me.”

The teen will be prosecuted as an adult, and is being held on $3 million bail. He faces up to 60 yeas in prison if found guilty of murder. He is scheduled to enter a plea on June 4.

[AP]