PORTLAND, Ore. – A Multnomah County judge has ruled that a man who fatally stabbed a stranger outside the Portland Art Museum in 2023 was legally insane at the time of the attack. Instead of prison, the man will now spend the rest of his life under psychiatric supervision.
Judge Rules “Guilty Except for Insanity”
On Wednesday, Circuit Judge Kelly Skye found 28-year-old Jonathan Grall guilty except for insanity in the killing of Jonathan D. Bennett, 34, who died after being stabbed in the neck on January 31, 2023.
Judge Skye concluded that Grall was suffering from schizophrenia and was unable to appreciate the criminality of his actions.
“His paranoia and persecutorial delusions interfered with his ability to appreciate the criminality of his conduct,” Skye said, citing evidence that included Grall’s 911 call immediately after the attack, videotaped statements to detectives, and extensive mental health records.
The ruling means Grall will be committed to the Oregon State Hospital for life under the authority of the Psychiatric Security Review Board.
The Fatal Encounter
According to testimony, Bennett had been urinating on a retaining wall outside the Portland Art Museum when Grall approached him. Without warning, Grall stabbed him once in the neck with a three- to four-inch knife with a green handle.
Bennett collapsed on his back in a pool of blood and died at the scene. An autopsy confirmed his death was caused by a single stab wound.
Police recovered the weapon near the body.
Expert Testimony on Mental Illness
The defense relied heavily on the evaluation of Dr. Michelle Guyton, president-elect of the American Academy of Forensic Psychology. Guyton testified that Grall’s schizophrenia prevented him from conforming his behavior to the law.
She noted that Grall immediately called 911 after the stabbing, referring to Bennett as “the assailant,” despite the fact that Bennett was unarmed and had been attacked from behind.
Grall also displayed bizarre behavior in custody, asking police: “Am I free to go?” after learning that Bennett had died. He reportedly believed the stranger might still be pursuing him, even as Bennett lay dying on the ground.
Judge Skye said Grall’s actions and explanations demonstrated that he viewed the stabbing as self-defense, albeit under paranoid delusions.
Prosecution Calls it Vigilante Justice
Prosecutor Kristen Kyle-Castelli argued that Grall’s actions were not the result of psychosis but of personal outrage at what he viewed as indecent behavior.
“He took a personal affront to it happening in an area where art existed. He wanted his neighborhood safe,” Kyle-Castelli told the court. “It’s not reasonable. Most murders are not.”
She described the stabbing as an act of “vigilante justice,” pointing out that Grall appeared calm and coherent during his police interviews, answering questions without signs of agitation or confusion.
Defense: “Driven by Paranoid Delusions”
Defense attorneys Benjamin Kim and Rian Peck countered that Grall was not on medication at the time and was experiencing severe psychotic symptoms.
They highlighted his erratic behavior during his 911 call, his tendency to appear to hear voices in his holding cell, and the sudden head movements he made during his police interrogation.
“His actions were not the result of rational thinking,” Peck argued. “They were the result of paranoid delusions.”
Family Members Speak Out
Before deputies escorted Grall from the courtroom, family and friends of Jonathan Bennett delivered emotional statements.
-
David Bennett, the victim’s father, called the killing “heinous, cruel and unforgivable,” insisting Grall should have been sentenced to prison.
-
Dawn Heiydt, Bennett’s mother, described her son as loving, kind, and adventurous. Speaking by video, she said the loss had “broken” her and denounced Grall as a coward who attacked from behind.
-
Jared Morton, Bennett’s brother, said in a statement that the crime was “senseless, violent and cruel.”
-
Antonio Castaneda, Bennett’s close friend, remembered him as a “sweet soul” who was passionate about people and had a distinctive, joyful laugh.
Grall and His Mother Offer Apologies
Grall’s mother, Kelly Grall, addressed the court directly, offering condolences to the Bennett family.
“I offer my sincere condolences and my sincere sorrow for all of this, for you having to be here today,” she said.
Grall himself also read a prepared statement, apologizing for his actions.
“Please allow me to say I’m sorry. I’m unable to exemplify how sorry I am,” he said. “I seek psychiatric help to better represent the person I wish to be. I promise I will never hurt someone this way again.”
Commitment to Psychiatric Care
Judge Skye ultimately found Grall guilty except for insanity on charges of second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and unlawful use of a weapon.
Grall will remain in state psychiatric custody for life, with his release or treatment changes overseen by the Psychiatric Security Review Board.
For Bennett’s loved ones, however, the ruling brought little comfort. Many left the courtroom still convinced that prison—not a hospital—was the only just outcome for the man who killed their son, brother, and friend.
Leave a Reply