An Augusta woman who stabbed her two children to death during a psychotic break 13 years ago was denied a conditional release to a community group home Monday, May 2.
Jeanette Hawes, now 37, was not diagnosed with schizophrenia or treated for the mental illness until after Nov. 29, 2007, when she killed Jordan, 1, and Shakayla, 3, in the restroom of a convenience store on Lumpkin Road.
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After a bench trial in January 2009, Hawes was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a state hospital where she has remained.
Hawes’ treating forensic psychologist, Dana Pitts, testified Monday in Richmond Count Superior Court that Hawes’ progress has been consistently good for several years now.
She is compliant with medication requirements without protest, and Hawes has earned privileges of walking around the hospital campus without supervision and going on outings outside the hospital with staff, Pitts said.
Hawes’ treatment team members agree that Hawes was not a danger to herself or others, Pitts said. Her risk assessment level is low in the hospital setting or a community integration home, and it is recommended that she be allowed to go to such a home, Pitts said. She would continue to be monitored and under medical care.
Hawes has been accepted in the peer mentoring program at the hospital. She has earned a GED and taken some college course, Hawes said.
“I did not understand that I was sick, and I am sorry,” she said Monday.
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Her attorney, Alicia Thomas, stressed Monday that whatever rules the judge deemed appropriate would be obeyed, not what the mental health or department of behavioral health instructed.
Assistant District Attorney Kyle Davis countered that Hawes could relapse if moving into a group home created stress or if her medication was changed.
Judge John Flythe denied the motion for Hawes to be moved into a group home, finding she continued to pose a danger to herself and others.
Sandy Hodson is a staff reporter covering courts for The Augusta Press. Reach her at sandy@theaugustapress.com.
