Prom Day Stabbing Suspect Christopher Plaskon Pleads Not Guilty

Prom day stabbing suspect Christopher Plaskon pleaded not guilty to the charges against him at the Milford Superior Court on Wednesday.

The 17-year-old boy from Connecticut also waived his right to a probable cause hearing and instead opted for a trial before a panel of three judges rather than facing a jury. The young suspect, who wore an orange jumpsuit and had his feet shackled, was attentive during his hearing but showed little emotion.

Richard Meehan, Plaskon’s attorney, said that he is looking into the possibility of a mental health defense which would be more difficult to present to a jury: “I’m a firm believer that juries have a very difficult time with issues pertaining to mental health in the criminal justice system,” he said.

The prom day stabbing suspect clearly does have mental issues; he is on anti-psychotic and anti-anxiety medications and was placed on suicide watch at a hospital recently.

The deadly stabbing of Maren Sanchez took place in a stairwell at the Jonathan Law High School in Milford on April 25th just hours before the school’s junior prom was to begin. It is suspected that the stabbing may have occurred because Sanchez refused to be Plaskon’s date for the prom.

There may be little doubt that the prom day stabbing suspect carried out the act since he was seen on top of Sanchez during the attack; according to the police affidavit, Plaskon was seen by eye-witnesses discarding a bloody knife.

When he was taken to the principal’s office, his clothes bloodied, he said to an attending police officer, “I did it. Just arrest me.”

Following the fatal stabbing, the Plaskon family issued the following statement: “Please know that you are forever in our hearts, our thoughts and our prayers. We join with the entire Milford community to celebrate the life and mourn the loss of this most vibrant and exceptional young woman.”

If found guilty, Plaskon could face up to 60 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of 25 years.