Austin H. Graham was convicted by a Multnomah County judge on Monday of killing his mother, Teresa A. Graham, 59, in October 2023, with the exception of insanity.
Graham, 28, was committed to the Oregon State Hospital under the Psychiatric Security Review Board for a maximum sentence of life, with credit for time served, according to Judge David Rees’ decision. Additionally, he is prohibited from acquiring or owning a firearm.
A little more than a year ago, Graham was arrested for second-degree murder when his mother was discovered unconscious in bed. On the evening of October 20, police were called to the family’s residence on Southwest Menefee Drive in the Hillsdale district of Portland.
At first, a medical examiner found no obvious injuries, but later, the examiner’s office informed detectives that an autopsy had shown unusual circumstances. At the time, police stated that she was killed by manual strangulation.
Teresa Graham stated in 2023 civil court filings that her son’s mental illness started in 2018 after suffering a catastrophic brain injury. In early 2023, she told a judge, his mental state deteriorated even more. According to the documents, he suffered from hallucinations, was unable to work, and did not eat or bathe.
According to Teresa Graham, Austin Graham fled home and briefly experienced homelessness despite the family’s efforts to obtain him appropriate mental care. She was given guardianship of her kid just before she passed away.
Three Multnomah County deputies escorted Austin Graham into a courtroom on the 12th floor on Monday.
Due to a qualifying mental illness that led him to believe his mother was poisoning him, Rees determined that Austin Graham lacked the mental capacity to change his behavior to comply with the law.
Rees asked him if he was taking his medication now as the hearing came to a finish. He was, according to the defendant.
The judge urged them to continue taking it and to pay attention to their doctors.
Regarding the drugs, Graham stated, “It helps me.” I’m telling the truth.
“Good luck to you, sir,” Rees said to Graham as officers led him out of the courthouse.
Then, in the gallery, Rees turned to the family and said, “I’m sorry for your loss.”
You can contact Jonathan Bach by phone at 503-221-4303 or by email at [email protected].
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