Woman kills lover - then leaves his head in a bucket

Taylor Schabusiness killed her lover while they were having sex - but what she did to him next defies belief

- GAIL SHORTLAND

Taylor Schabusiness had already crossed paths with the police, but no one could have predicted the gruesome act she would commit.

Schabusiness lived in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and was married to husband Warren. They’d been together since 2017, but by 2022, Warren was serving time in prison for distributing drugs.

The couple had a two-year-old son, who was living with family in Texas, and Schabusiness had developed a drug habit. She’d been in trouble for evading the police and was on probation. But while her husband was behind bars, she was partying and having sex with her ex-boyfriend, Shad Thyrion, 24.

Shad was a kind, compassionate man who loved camping and spending time with family. He was swept along by Schabusiness’ strong character.

GRUESOME DISCOVERIES

On the evening of 21 February, 2022, Schabusiness picked up Shad from the house he lived in with his mum, and the pair went round to a friend’s house to party. Shad’s mum, Tara Pakanich, spent the next day out with her boyfriend and didn’t see her son when she returned, as he slept in the basement. She assumed he’d spent the day with Schabusiness as her minivan was parked outside.

But in the early hours of 23 February, she heard a door slam and the sound of a vehicle driving away. Tara went down to check on Shad but couldn’t see him. Then, at the bottom of the basement stairs, she made a horrifying discovery – her son’s severed head in a bucket.

After a hysterical 911 call, the police arrived at the house just after 3am. They found the plastic bucket covered with a towel. When the towel was lifted, there was Shad’s head along with his dismembered penis.