Jurors found an Osage, Iowa teen guilty of second-degree murder in the death of his mother.
Noah Crooks, was charged in March 2012 with first-degree murder for the shooting death of his 37-year-old mother, Gretchen. Noah was 13 at the time of the shooting.
Noah’s father, William Crooks, reportedly testified during the trial that he initially thought it was a joke when he received a text message from his son, asking Crooks to come home because Noah had accidentally killed his mother.
Gretchen was shot 20 times with a .22 caliber hunting rifle. During a 911 call after the shooting, Noah allegedly told an emergency dispatcher that he had tried to sexually assault his mother.
Noah’s attorneys argued an insanity defense on his behalf at trial, saying he suffered from Intermittent Explosive Disorder, which is characterized by sudden violent outbursts.
The case went to the jury Wednesday, May 8, 2013.
In a verdict delivered Monday afternoon, May 13, the Mason City Globe Gazette reports the jury found Noah, now 14, guilty of second-degree murder. He was found not guilty of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse.