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Homicide suspect has history of mental health problems

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Jeffery Newberg

ELKHORN — Mental disease could be a defense in the case against a man suspected of fatally stabbing his mother last month in Linn Township, his attorney said.

Jeffrey Newberg, 45, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the May 23 slaying of his mother, Alice F. Newberg, 70. Both lived at N1000 Highway 120 in Linn Township.

“It’s obvious he has mental health issues, and he’s been treated in the past,” said Jeffrey R. Krebs, deputy first assistant state public defender.

Newberg appeared in Walworth County Court Friday and waived his right to a preliminary hearing. Judge Robert Kennedy ordered Newberg to stand trial.

After the hearing, Newberg’s attorney said it is possible Newberg could plead not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect at his July 14 arraignment.

Krebs said it is too soon to know whether mental disease will be his client’s defense, but he has requested copies of all of Newberg’s mental health records.

A family member said last month that Newberg was on prescription antidepressants and sleeping pills on the night of the murder.

In court Friday, Newberg told the judge he wanted to waive his preliminary hearing because he didn’t want his family members to have to testify against him.

“He didn’t want in any way to increase the trauma his family has suffered,” Krebs said.

According to the complaint, police went to Newberg’s home at about 11 a.m. and saw Newberg walking out of the garage with blood on his head and clothes.

Inside the garage, investigators found Alice Newberg dead, lying face down on the dirt garage floor, according to the complaint.

Jeffrey Newberg’s sister, Laura Lade, turned to Newberg and asked him what he did, according to the complaint, and Newberg was arrested.

An autopsy report later revealed that Alice Newberg had been stabbed multiple times in the back of her body.

Blood led from the garage, to the workshop room, to the mudroom, according to the complaint. It appeared the body had been moved across the floor.

A white washcloth with red stains was found in the kitchen, according to the complaint, and a broken knife with red stains was in the garbage can.

After Jeffrey Newberg was arrested, he told investigators he had screwed up. He asked two investigators to shoot him in the head.

Newberg remains in jail on $100,000 cash bail. He faces up to life in prison if he’s convicted.