Minneapolis Clerk’s Killer Found Not Guilty Due to Mental Illness

On September 10, 2026, a Hennepin County judge found Taylor Justin Schulz not guilty by reason of mental illness for the brutal December 2023 murder of a beloved Minneapolis grocery store clerk. 

• The Case and Rulin

  Schulz, 47, was charged with first-degree premeditated murder and second-degree intentional murder for the killing of 66-year-old Robert Skafte. Skafte, a well-known neighborhood advocate and former ballet dancer, was working behind the counter at the Oak Grove Grocery in Minneapolis’ Loring Park neighborhood when Schulz attacked him, beating him and impaling him with a golf club. 

  During the bench trial, Judge Michael Burns ruled that while prosecutors successfully proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Schulz was responsible for the physical act of the murder, Schulz was actively suffering from severe mental illness at the time of the attack. The court determined that due to his condition (which included a history of schizophrenia), Schulz did not understand the nature of his actions or know that what he was doing was wrong. 

  What Happens Next?

  The "not guilty" finding means Schulz is legally acquitted of the criminal charges, but he will not be released.

  • Civil Commitment: The judge ordered Schulz to remain under court-supervised civil commitment as "mentally ill and dangerous."
  • Institutionalization: According to Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, Schulz will be indefinitely committed to the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter, Minnesota, where he will receive long-term psychiatric treatment under strict security. 

  The ruling concludes a long legal process where Schulz was initially found mentally incompetent to stand trial three separate times before his competency was finally restored in late 2025. Visit the link below for more Minneapolis news, updates, and community stories on Mplsnewsandmore1 

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