Woman Beats 94-Year-Old Grandma to Death

Katherine Schubert beat her 94-year-old grandmother, left her lying in agonizing pain for two days, then beat her a second time in a game she called “round two.” The woman suffered extensive head trauma and died at a hospital six days later.

Schubert was charged with the murder of Mary Driscoll but accepted a plea deal charging her with manslaughter and a six-year prison sentence.

Released From Drug Rehab Day of Beating

The Toms River, New Jersey woman had been released from a drug rehab on the day of the attack. She was on probation on a conviction for endangering the welfare of a child after she drove intoxicated with her child in the backseat. According to arrest reports, in Nov. 2013, Schubert “ingested a large amount of heroin” then drove with the young boy in the backseat.

When Schubert called a friend who refused to take the woman where she wanted to go after she learned that she was drunk, it led to an argument with her grandmother.

Schubert Details the Crime

Schubert said on the day of the May 2014 attack she called a friend who refused to pick her up when she learned that she was drunk. She said this caused an argument between her and the grandmother, eventually causing her to beat the woman and leave her lying on the floor without food or water. Schubert told police that she took sleeping pills on the day of the attack and did not remember details but took full responsibility for her actions that led to her grandmother’s death.

Two days later, she said she attempted to get her grandmother dressed and into her bed, but instead, went into “round two and beat the woman into submission.” A friend visiting the home found the woman lying in the floor. She dialed 911, at which time Katherine attempted to remove the phone from her hands.

Schubert was so intoxicated she had to be transported to the hospital before she was arrested and charged. It was reported later that Schubert had taken an entire bottle of the sleeping medication, Ambien.

Up to 10-Years in Prison

The plea deal Schubert accepted could have sent her to prisons for up to 10-years. The family felt the six-year sentence was satisfactory, especially since she is the mother of a son, who was 4 ½ years old at the time. Schubert must serve at least 5-years of the sentence before she becomes eligible for parole.

"We believe Katie deserves to be punished for what she did, but we also believe Katie is not a criminal," said her aunt Katherine Driscoll. "We as a family are asking for leniency because...she has hit rock bottom."

A Long History of Drug Addiction

Schubert had long battled an addiction to alcohol and opioids at the time of the incident. She had been to rehab six times but treatment never seemed to work for her. Schubert’s aunt said that she always went to the best rehabs.

“Difficult to Deal With”

Driscoll battled dementia and her daughter, Michele, the mother of Katherine, said she was sometimes hard to deal with. She also felt the attack was somewhat her fault because she left Katherine home alone with the woman while she went to the family’s summer home for the weekend.

Prosecutors disagreed with this statement, stating she endangered her grandmother by making the decision to consume alcohol and ingest sleeping pills.

Resources & More Information:

https://www.app.com/story/news/local/courts/2016/06/10/granny-killer-gets-six-years/85693642/

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