The Naperville woman accused in the 2012 stabbing deaths of her son and a young girl she was baby babysitting has been found guilty.
Elzbieta Plackowska was found guilty in the bench trial that lasted about two weeks.
She admitted to killing her 7-year-old son Justin and 5-year-old Olivia Dworakowski, but her defense maintained she was insane when she committed the murders.
Plackowska was convicted on 10 counts of first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals for killing two dogs that same night.
Defense attorneys said she was suffering a psychotic episode on the night of the murders brought on by the recent death of her father in Poland.
But prosecutors argued Plackowska’s actions and changing stories following the murders proved she was aware what she was doing was wrong. They also pointed to one police interview in which Plackowska said she knew she wasn’t supposed to stab the children but had to.
Judge Robert Miller said she may have been mentally ill at the time, but agreed with the prosecution, saying he believes Plackowska was aware her actions were wrong.
She faces a mandatory sentence of natural life in prison.
The judge set a November 21 return court date in the case.
Naperville News 17’s Beth Bria reports.
