A schizophrenic Pomona woman who drove recklessly through downtown White Plains in October of 2008—killing one pedestrian and injuring another—has been deemed "not competent" for sentencing, Westchester District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced today.
Sheldene Campbell, a 41-year-old Rockland County resident, piloted her car on the wrong side of Havilands Drive nearly five years ago, striking a woman and her dog, injuring both.
Campbell, a mother of two, continued to speed up Havilands Drive, where she struck a second pedestrian—Marie Bucci, 65—and killed her.
Campbell continued her erratic driving and soon after parked and exited her damaged vehicle; cops found her walking at the Bryant and South Lexington Avenues.
Campbell was arrested and found guilty of a slate of felonies, including murder in the second degree, attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree and leaving the scene of an incident without reporting.
But today, officials are saying Campbell is incompetent and cannot be sentenced at this time. The decision was reached on the heels of hearings by neurologists, psychologists, nurses and corrections staff.
"[Campbell] is bedridden and on a feeding tube and trach collar," officials told Patch.
Instead, Campbell will now enter the custody of the New York State Office of Mental Health for confinement. She was facing 25 years to life in prison.
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