Snapped is examining the murder of Brenda Powell, who was murdered by her own daughter, college student Sydney Powell, at their suburban home in Akron, Ohio.
On March 3, 2020, Sydney was just 19 years old when she savagely attacked her mother while the latter spoke on the telephone about Sydney’s college grades.
Sydney had been suspended from the University of Mount Union for poor grades, which led to the school officials telephoning her mom, Brenda. Sydney had lied to her mother about being booted out of the school.
As the 50-year-old mom spoke to the officials about Sydney, her daughter seemingly flew into a rage, bashed her over the head with an iron skillet, and then stabbed her in the neck nearly 30 times.
Shocked school officials Michelle Gaffney and John Frazier could hear screaming followed by a repetitive thudding sound on the end of the line before the phone went dead. Gaffney and Frazier dialed again, and a woman picked up, claiming to be Brenda; they said, “Yes, this is Brenda. Yes, this is Brenda.”
The pair knew immediately that it wasn’t Brenda; Dean of Students Frazier told the person, “Sydney, I think this is you; this is not Brenda,” and the line went dead.
Akron police found dying Brenda Powell after Sydney Powell attack
The police promptly performed a welfare check at the home, where they found Brenda barely clinging to life. She was transported to a nearby hospital but, sadly, passed away from her injuries a short time later.
Watch the Latest on our YouTube ChannelBrenda had worked as a specialist at the Akron Children’s Hospital, and her death was keenly felt by colleagues and patients alike.
A former cancer patient of Brenda’s, Jackie Custer, told the press, “She was like a second mom to me and the mom at the hospital. She treated us just like her own children.”
Sydney pleaded not guilty by way of temporary insanity. Her attorney, Don Malarcik, argued that the teenager was suffering from a severe mental illness that caused her to have a psychotic breakdown. Malarcik explained, “This was a brutal, brutal attack, and that brutality speaks to the insanity of this incident.”
Sydney Powell convicted of killing her mom, Brenda Powell
In September 2023, a jury found Sydney guilty of murder, assault, and tampering with evidence. She was sentenced to 15 years to life. The killer sobbed as she was led away in shackles.
Summit County Judge Kelly McLaughlin told the sentencing court, “To the victim, to the family and the friends, I am terribly sorry for your loss here. I cannot imagine what you have been through.”
Snapped airs Sundays at 6/5c on Oxygen.