Van Orden gets 50 years

Kevin Lilly

Jul. 1, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Ted Shriver, a long-time attendant at the Logansport State Hospital, took the witness stand in Cass Superior Court II today. He explained what being stabbed and bitten by a mentally ill hospital patient did to his life.

"The events of this incident have been extremely stressful to deal with. They affect me in my personal life, as well as in my work," Shriver said.

For the punishment of 64-year-old Julie Van Orden, Shriver recommended the 50-year maximum permitted in a class A felony attempted murder conviction.

He got his wish.

After hearing Shriver's testimony and argument from the prosecution and defense, as well as considering Van Orden's criminal past, Judge Rick Maughmer handed down the lengthiest penalty allowed by state law.

In May, a jury found Van Orden guilty but mentally ill following a two-day trial. Jurors heard about the attack on Aug. 22, 2006.

According to court records, Van Orden become upset, grabbed two kitchen knives from the utensil drawer and stabbed Shriver multiple times in the face and torso. While defending himself, she also bit Shriver's forearm hard enough that it nearly pulled a tooth from her mouth.

Shriver received numerous stitches, a puncture wound that nearly hit his spleen and scratches on his face and glasses.

To avoid prejudicing them during trial, attorneys were ordered not to tell jurors about Van Orden's conviction for the 1980 murder of Russell Lloyd Sr., who had recently left office as mayor of Evansville.

Shriver referenced the victims of that crime during his statement.

"There were times during the past three years when I seriously wondered if a conclusion would ever be reached," Shriver said. "On this day, a decision will be reached. I would like to ask the court to not only consider my pain in this decision but also the lifetime of despair that has been inflicted on the Lloyd family also."

Lloyd's son and daughter wrote letters to the judge detailing how Van Orden's actions 29 years ago affected their lives. Mary Margaret Lloyd became a judge in Vanderburgh County. She graduated law school and became a mother, all without her father.

"Each aspect of my life occurred without my father to share in any of these experiences," she wrote. "My daughter hears stories about what an incredible man her grandfather was. She takes car rides on the Lloyd Expressway and swims at Lloyd Pool, but she will never truly know him."

She asked Maughmer for a "lengthy prison sentence."

"Please, protect other innocent people from being harmed by Julie Van Orden," she wrote.

After Cass County Prosecutor Kevin Enyeart asked for the maximum, public defender Brad Rozzi asked for a sentence of 20 to 30 years. He argued that any sentence would be a life sentence for his client. Rozzi revealed to the court that Van Orden may have lung cancer.

A correctional officer rolled Van Orden into the courtroom in a wheelchair. Dressed in the orange garb of the Cass County Jail, she sat without saying a word until just before the judge announced the sentence. She said to the judge, "I would like to spend the least time as possible."

Van Orden was remanded to the custody of the Indiana Department of Correction. The agency will determine where Van Orden will be housed and how her paranoid schizophrenia will be treated.

At the hearing's conclusion, an officer pushed Van Orden out of the courtroom as state hospital employees in the gallery hugged Shriver, who said he was satisfied with the judge's decision.

"I felt that she did obviously try to kill me, that she should get the maximum, and that's what I was hoping for all along," he said.

Shriver, who has fully recovered from his injuries, said he's ready to move on.

"Emotionally, I think I'm over it now and ready to go on and get this behind me," Shriver said. "I'm glad that justice finally prevailed."

--Kevin Lilly is news editor of the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at (574) 732-5117 or kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com

Newstex ID: KRTB-0347-36166415