HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. — A homeless North Carolina woman charged with murder in the stabbing death of an 82-year-old local resident was found not guilty by reason of insanity after a judge reviewed her extensive psychiatric history, authorities and court documents show.
Amber Nelson, whose case drew attention in Henderson County, had been charged in the fatal stabbing of Patricia Moniz, a grandmother and longtime community member whose body was found inside her home earlier this year. Witnesses and family members said Moniz had allowed Nelson to stay with her the night before the death, believing she was helping someone in need.
During a December 19 hearing, the judge determined that Nelson’s severe mental illness, including documented episodes of extreme hallucinations, paranoia and bipolar disorder, left her incapable of understanding the nature and wrongfulness of her actions at the time of the attack. The ruling followed testimony from psychiatric experts who detailed Nelson’s long-standing history of hospitalizations, self-harm and untreated mental health crises.
Rather than face prison time, Nelson will be committed to a state mental health facility for treatment, a decision that reflects the judge’s finding that she posed a danger to herself and others due to her psychiatric condition. Legal analysts note that such verdicts are relatively rare and typically hinge on extensive medical evaluations showing the defendant could not rationally comprehend or control her conduct when the crime occurred.
The decision has elicited mixed reactions from the community. While some residents expressed relief that mental health considerations were factored into the legal process, others, including members of Moniz’s extended family, have called for greater protections for vulnerable people and more robust systems to prevent tragedies involving individuals in crisis.
