Mother Pleads for Mental Health Help After Son's Violent Attack

Rosa DeGout forgives her son Sebastian, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia, for stabbing her multiple times, and calls for better mental health support.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 8:40pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up X-ray photograph showing the intricate, ghostly structures of a human brain, symbolizing the delicate nature of mental health.An X-ray image reveals the fragile inner workings of the human brain, highlighting the vulnerability of mental health and the need for better support systems.Lowell Today

Nearly two years after pleading with a New York court to intervene as her son Sebastian's mental health deteriorated, Rosa DeGout watched as he pleaded guilty to stabbing her about 10 times inside her Dracut, Massachusetts apartment. Despite the severity of the attack, which left Rosa with over 250 stitches, she is advocating for her son to receive the mental health treatment he needs rather than just punishment.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges families face in getting proper mental health support for loved ones before a crisis occurs. Rosa's story exposes gaps in involuntary commitment laws that prevent intervention until the situation escalates to violence, and the need for better systems to support those with severe mental illness and their caregivers.

The details

In March 2025, Sebastian DeGout, 39, who was diagnosed with both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia in late adolescence, suddenly attacked his mother Rosa inside her apartment, stabbing her over 10 times. The assault left Rosa with stab and slash wounds across her body requiring over 250 stitches, a broken jaw, and a severed vocal cord. Despite the severity, Rosa is advocating for her son to receive mental health treatment rather than just punishment, as she had previously tried to get him help but was blocked by legal thresholds.

  • In May 2024, Rosa filed a petition in New York warning that Sebastian was living in his car, not eating or sleeping, and showing signs of 'paranoia and psychosis.'
  • In late February 2025, Sebastian moved in with Rosa in Dracut, Massachusetts.
  • On March 15, 2025, Sebastian attacked Rosa inside her apartment.

The players

Rosa DeGout

The mother of Sebastian DeGout who was stabbed multiple times by her son, but is advocating for him to receive mental health treatment rather than just punishment.

Sebastian DeGout

A 39-year-old man diagnosed with both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia in late adolescence, who pleaded guilty to stabbing his mother Rosa multiple times inside her apartment.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The charge of attempted murder that Sebastian faces today is, in reality, the clinical manifestation of a biological break from reality; a tragic outcome that belongs to the illness, not the son I raised.”

— Rosa DeGout, Mother

“While his actions were violent, my physical injuries cannot compare to the emotional heartbreak of this ordeal. I forgave my son immediately, because I know the person who attacked me was a stranger created by psychosis; Sebastian's actions were a symptom, not a choice.”

— Rosa DeGout, Mother

“The tragedy that has brought us here today was not an accident; it was a predictable outcome that could have been prevented if the system had listened to a mother's plea.”

— Rosa DeGout, Mother

What’s next

Rosa hopes her son's case will lead to changes in involuntary commitment laws to allow earlier intervention for those with severe mental illness.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the urgent need for better mental health support systems to help families get treatment for loved ones before a crisis occurs, and the importance of compassion and understanding for those struggling with severe mental illness.