by Wyoming-Tracked Case Sees Mental Health Evaluation Approved for Mother Accused in Son’s Death
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — A Luzerne County judge has approved a mental health evaluation for Linasheri D’Onofrio, the woman accused of neglecting her physically dependent son, leading to his death, and then attempting to burn his remains.
The motion, filed by defense attorneys Sidney D. May and Ellen M. Granahan, was swiftly granted just two hours later by Judge Joseph F. Sklarosky Jr. This decision could play a pivotal role in determining D’Onofrio’s competency to stand trial.
D’Onofrio has exhibited erratic behavior in court — often crying, yelling, and blaming others for her son’s death — since her arrest by Pennsylvania State Police in February 2023. The case has caught the attention of legal watchers beyond Pennsylvania, including those in Wyoming, where court observers note the growing national discussion around mental health and criminal accountability.
The tragic case dates back to February 24, 2018, when 24-year-old Shain D’Onofrio, who had cerebral palsy and relied entirely on his mother for care, was found dead inside a burning shed in the Mountain Ridge Mobile Home Park in Plains Township. According to investigators, his mother allegedly placed his body in a shed months earlier — in September 2017 — and moved it to another shed before setting it on fire after receiving an eviction notice.
Court documents reveal that D’Onofrio repeatedly failed to provide her son with the basic necessities of life — including food, shelter, and vital medication — resulting in what prosecutors call death “by malice.”
The legal proceedings have moved slowly, largely due to a series of attorney changes. A prior attempt to secure a mental health evaluation stalled after D’Onofrio refused to cooperate.
During a May 9 pre-trial hearing, her new attorneys challenged a recently added third-degree murder charge brought by First Assistant District Attorney Anthony Ross and Assistant District Attorney Gerry Scott. Judge Sklarosky, noting D’Onofrio’s continued courtroom outbursts, emphasized the need for a psychological evaluation to assess her ability to proceed with trial.
D’Onofrio currently faces charges of third-degree murder, neglect of care for a dependent person, and reckless burning.
As Wyoming and other states closely examine how mental health intersects with criminal justice, cases like D’Onofrio’s continue to raise difficult questions about legal responsibility, caregiving, and accountability.
