TULSA, Okla. — A judge found Jennifer Kunzweiler not guilty Thursday in the stabbing of her father Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler.
The judge ruled Jennifer Kunzweiler not guilty by reason of mental illness. However, she will remain in state custody for at least the next month.
She'll be transferred from the county jail to a mental health facility for treatment until a hearing next month to determine if she is a danger to the public or herself.
Her father, who suffered minor injuries, has spent the months since the stabbing calling for mental healthcare reforms in the state. At a luncheon on Jan. 17, Steve Kunzweiler called his daughter one of "the most compassionate and well-intentioned persons we know."
Kunzweiler said Friday he's grateful for the verdict but even more grateful he was there the day he had to testify despite it being in the top-five most difficult days of his life and the judge continuing the no-contact order.
"I'll take this outcome 100 times out of 100 because I still have a daughter, I still have an opportunity to help her," he said. "I haven't been able to contact my daughter since this incident. All I know comes from my wife talking on a text or a cell phone call from jail."
Kunzweiler testified his daughter struggled to remain mentally stable for a variety of reasons including having many adverse reactions to medication.
"I don't want her to feel bad about it — this is about as personal as it gets," he said. "I want her to be able to put this in her rearview mirror and be able to get married, have kids and be happy."
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere --
- Download our free app for Apple, Android and Kindle devices.
- Sign up for daily newsletters emailed to you
- Like us on Facebook
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Twitter
