Kansas City, MO: This woman from Kansas City is going to be tried next year for first-degree murder in the death of her son. An insanity plea is not likely to be used.
The lawyer for Tasha Haefs told the judge that they are not going to use insanity as a defense, present an alibi, or call any expert witnesses at her April 7, 2025, sentencing. He sent the information in response to a prosecutor’s request for proof.
He said last week that he was not guilty of first-degree murder and deadly criminal action. The alleged crime took place in their home in 2022 and involved the killing of her 6-year-old son Karvel Stevens and a dog.
The Missouri Department of Mental Health took her in in June 2022 because they thought she wasn’t mentally fit to stand trial.
Court records show that Haefs called 911 and told the operator that the devil was trying to attack her. This is when the cops arrived at her home.
When the police arrived, there was blood on the front door. Officers looked inside the house and saw the headless body of a child, according to the probable cause statement.
When they got inside, they saw Haefs with cuts and blood on her feet and legs. Court documents say that they found the headless body of a child close and the headless body of a dog in the basement.
According to the Associated Press, Haefs’ family members said at the time that she had been dealing with drug abuse, depression, serious trauma, and hallucinations for many years.