Tragic Case: Minnesota Woman, Cassandra Dusold Convicted for Deadly Squeeze on Mother Which Led To Her Death

A Minnesota woman, Cassandra Dusold, has been sentenced to a minimum of ten years in prison for fatally squeezing her mother in a deadly embrace.

Cassandra Dusold, aged 35, was found guilty in August of second-degree murder in the tragic demise of her 69-year-old mother, Dorothy Dusold. On Monday, she received a sentence of more than a decade behind bars.

In January 2022, Dusold reportedly confessed to the police that she had applied pressure to her mother, likening it to a python's grip, until her mother lost consciousness. 

Initially, she claimed self-defense, alleging that her mother had attacked her, but later admitted this was untrue. Dusold explained that she had put her mother in a chokehold, describing the intense pressure she applied, which caused her mother's ribs to hurt.

The court documents reveal that Cassandra Dusold was convicted after a stipulated trial on a charge of unintentional murder. A first-degree murder charge had been dismissed.

Scott County Judge Mark Vandelist, in a court filing dated September 15, stated, "On January 19, 2022, [Dusold] used her arms to choke her mother, Dorothy Dusold, to the point of unconsciousness. As a result of Defendant's actions, Dorothy Dusold died days later."

Subsequently, on Monday, Vandelist handed down a 128-month prison sentence to Cassandra Dusold.

Before sentencing, Dusold's legal team argued that her history of mental health issues, including psychosis, paranoia, and delusions, rendered her unaware of the wrongfulness of her actions. However, Judge Vandelist disagreed, determining that Dusold was mentally competent and understood the moral wrongfulness of her actions.

The judge acknowledged Cassandra Dusold's severe mental illness but pointed out that it did not automatically absolve her of knowing the moral wrongfulness of her deeds. He noted that Dusold had provided a coherent and consistent account of the incident shortly after the attack, indicating an awareness of her actions' wrongfulness. 

Furthermore, she had taken steps to hide evidence, such as covering up scratches on her arms with a sweatshirt during her interaction with law enforcement officers.

According to Judge Vandelist's order, Cassandra Dusold will receive credit for 622 days of time served.

In another news, a man from Virginia is facing a virtually certain life behind bars for the murder of his wife in the summer of 2022, even though her body has never been found. See detailed story here

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