In a harrowing video, a father from Ohio is seen grappling with the news that his daughter was involved in the tragic murder of his wife. On March 3, 2020, Brenda Powell was brutally murdered in her Akron, Ohio home she shared with her husband, Steven. The incident came to light when the University of Mount Union, during a call with Brenda, heard screams and lost connection.
Despite attempts to reconnect, a woman, falsely identifying herself as Brenda, answered, leading Michelle Gaffney, Associate Dean of Students, to testify, “It was not Brenda.” It was speculated that the woman on the phone was actually Sydney, Brenda and Steven’s daughter, who abruptly ended the call.
The disturbing footage, shared by the YouTube channel Stranger Stories, captures the gut-wrenching moment Steven is informed by the police of his wife’s death after being questioned about the events. Devastated, Steven is seen burying his head in his hands, overwhelmed with grief as he asks the officers about the circumstances of the incident.
The police shared their suspicions about Sydney’s involvement in the murder, questioning Steven about any past conflicts between Sydney and Brenda. Alone, a distraught Steven muttered about the grim future awaiting Sydney, stating she would be “going to jail forever.” The investigation revealed Sydney had attacked her mother with an iron skillet and stabbed her nearly 30 times in the neck after learning she had been expelled from college. Sydney was discovered in a catatonic state in the driveway.
Diagnosed with schizophrenia, Sydney pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity at her trial. In September 2023, she was sentenced to 15 years-to-life in prison. However, her father, Steven, has requested the court to reassess this decision. In a heartfelt letter to the Summit County Court of Common Pleas, he expressed his belief that a life sentence would not reflect what his wife, Brenda, would have wanted for their daughter.
Steven argued, “I can confirm with a 100% degree of certainty that this is not, what people are saying, is justice for Brenda Powell.” He advocated that the focus should shift towards Sydney’s mental health treatment rather than punitive measures. He urged that Sydney be placed in a mental health facility, reflecting on the impossibility of achieving true justice in such a tragic scenario. Sydney’s plans to appeal her sentence indicate the ongoing complexities and emotional turmoil surrounding the case.