Psychiatrist: Teen Who Murdered Reese Stanzel Near Perth Poses Low Reoffending Risk

A forensic psychiatrist told a Perth, Ont. court the teen who pleaded guilty to murdering 15-year-old Reese Stanzel is unlikely to reoffend. Sentencing is set for late July.

Forensic psychiatrist finds low reoffending risk in Stanzel murder case

A court-ordered forensic psychiatrist testified Monday that the teenage girl who pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder of 15-year-old Reese Stanzel near Perth, Ontario, poses a low risk of reoffending, cbc.ca reports.

Dr. Bradley Booth took the stand on the final day of the sentencing hearing at the Perth Courthouse. He prepared a Section 34 assessment — a court-ordered evaluation designed to assist the judge in determining an appropriate sentence and gauging reoffending risk for a young person.

Booth said the assessment was based on a five-and-a-half hour interview with the accused, along with her school, medical and other institutional records, an agreed statement of facts, and a pre-sentencing report.

The teen was 16 years old when she killed Stanzel in October 2024. She pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in November 2025. Her identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Booth diagnosed the teen with nine mental health disorders, among them dysthymia — which he described as major depressive episodes combined with low self-esteem and difficulty sleeping — as well as post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from both childhood trauma and the murder itself. He told the court she had suffered physical and verbal abuse at home and had a history of depression and suicidal thoughts.

The psychiatrist also identified traits associated with narcissistic and borderline personality disorders, including emotional instability, impulsiveness and an unstable sense of self.

Despite those findings, Booth testified the teen scored low on a psychopathy assessment and did not meet the diagnostic criteria. He noted there was no history of physical aggression prior to the killing.

Booth said he believes the teen felt justified in harming Stanzel at the time but has since shown remorse. His overall conclusion was that she presents a low likelihood of reoffending.

Stanzel's body was discovered in a wooded area near Perth in October 2024. The accused was initially charged with second-degree murder before that charge was upgraded to first-degree murder, to which she subsequently pleaded guilty.

Final sentencing has been scheduled for late July.

Source: Google News CA — Crime (EN)