File

Dena Schlosser

Dena Schlosser, the Plano mother who killed her baby by cutting off her arms, has told a judge that she believes she's ready to be released from a state mental hospital.

In a letter dated June 3, Ms. Schlosser asked state District Judge Chris Oldner for a new hearing, citing several mistakes in her medical records that have been corrected.

"I am confident that in light of the corrected documentation, my current mental health needs can be adequately met by community services and that I am no longer in need of institutionalized care," Ms. Schlosser wrote.

The typewritten, one-page letter disputes findings by two doctors who examined her, but it does not go into detail about the nature of her complaints. Her attorney, David Haynes, said he didn't know that his client had written to the court until contacted Thursday by The Dallas Morning News. He was unable to shed light on any new information in her medical records.

"It's hard to say what she means," Mr. Haynes said. "I haven't talked to her in a long time."

Ms. Schlosser severed her 10-month-old daughter's arms with a kitchen knife in November 2004 because she wanted to give the baby to God, she said.

In April 2006, Judge Oldner found her not guilty by reason of insanity at her second murder trial. Her first trial ended in a hung jury.

Ms. Schlosser was initially committed to North Texas State Hospital in Vernon, where she shared a room with Andrea Yates, the Houston mother who drowned her five children.

If Ms. Schlosser were released from state custody, it's unclear where she would live. She is prevented from seeing her two surviving daughters according to the terms of her January 2007 divorce from John Schlosser, who moved with his daughters to Weatherford.

Her mother, Connie Macaulay, has died, Mr. Haynes said.

Ms. Schlosser's request for freedom comes seven months after she appeared in a Collin County courtroom for her last commitment hearing.

On Nov. 8, Judge Oldner extended Ms. Schlosser's inpatient treatment for another year on the recommendation of Ted Debbs, superintendent of the Rusk State Hospital. Ms. Schlosser has been confined there since Oct. 8, 2007.

"Your court is respectfully advised that the patient is still mentally ill and in need of continued treatment at this facility," Mr. Debbs wrote to the court on Oct. 30, 2007.

Judge Oldner declined to comment on Ms. Schlosser's letter, which was placed in Ms. Schlosser's court file this week.

Mr. Haynes said he believes it's unlikely that the judge will grant an additional hearing. He expects Ms. Schlosser's next court date to be in November at her annual commitment hearing.

He said he intends to visit his client in the next 60 days to see how her treatment is progressing. He believes it's a positive sign that she's been moved to Rusk from the Vernon maximum security facility, but stopped short of saying he supports her release.

"I think she's making slow progress," Mr. Haynes said.