A Bloomington man has been found not guilty by reason of insanity in connection with the stabbing deaths of his parents last July.
25 year-old Brian Petersen was accused of murdering his parents, Nancy and Bruce, at their rural Bloomington home. McLean County Judge Robert Freitag determined during a 30-minute bench trial Brian Petersen didn't understand the criminal aspect of his actions when he attacked his parents.
According to an assistant state's attorney, Petersen told authorities he stabbed his parents "because he thought he was saving them from the darkness." A hearing has been scheduled for April 21 to determine treatment steps for Petersen, who will be returned to a mental health center in Springfield.
