Posted on 08/08/2025 5:34:40 PM PDT by nickcarraway
The family of a Newbury homicide victim is calling on Vermont officials to do more when it comes to protecting communities from those who suffer from mental illness and commit a crime. It comes after James Perry Jr. -- who admitted killing his own daughter in 2021 -- was found not guilty earlier this summer by reason of insanity.
The Orange County Courthouse in Chelsea was packed Friday as loved ones of Karina Rheaume expressed their grief to the court over her tragic death at the hands of her own father.
“The process never ends. Every hearing, every update re-traumatizes us, keeps the wounds open, keeps the fear alive,” said Mason Rheaume, Karina’s son.
The 38-year-old was shot to death outside her father’s Newbury home. She was there to bring him cookies and check on him. According to court documents, Perry had a history of severe mental illness. Ultimately, he was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity.
“James Perry is at risk of being released into circumstances that fail to recognize the severity of his actions and the potential threat he poses,” said Joshua Rheaume, Karina’s son.
Perry has been incarcerated since the 2021 homicide. The state is currently looking at housing options for Perry, but mental health beds are hard to come by. The family says anything short of a completely secure psychiatric facility will be a failure.
“I am here to humbly beg the Department of Mental Health, the state’s attorney, the defense, and your Honorable Judge Richardson to please choose justice in this case in the form of safety,” said Emilie Perry, Karina’s sister.
Karen Tronsgard-Scott with the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence says the case highlights a hole in the system. “This is a perfect example where there is a gap in the system that exists between the court process and the mental health process. There is this chasm that is there, and this family fell into that chasm,” she said.
Vermont mental health officials have declined to comment on specifics of the case.
Rheaume’s family says the state needs to do more. “When a state accepts the verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, that burden that would have been otherwise on the defendant should shift to the state,” Joe Rheaume said.
A hospitalization hearing, the next step in the case, is scheduled for August 21.
I’m predicting a quick recovery and release in the People’s Socialist Democratic Republic of Vermont.
The prisons for the criminals are no longer what they were. The new justice system puts the criminals out here with the deplorable public to deal with. That’s why the zero bail initiatives. The secure facilities with guards, gates, cafeterias, and secure rooms, are for the government bureaucrats. The whole concept flipped a 180 degrees.
“Not guilty by reason of insanity” should not even be a thing. It’s an insult to victims and their families.
“Guilty but insane”, okay. Get well at a mental hospital. Then serve the rest of your sentence in prison.
I think that standard for NGBROI, is supposed to be they don’t know something is wrong. As in “the angel Gabriel told me to smite them.”
anyone too insane to stand trial, shouldn’t be allowed outside a mental institution.
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