MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Court documents show officials are worried the father accused of killing his three daughters may try to commit suicide while in jail.
According to the documents, Aaron Schaffhausen wrote a handwritten note to the counselor saying he didn’t wish to see them. Jail officials say they are worried they could be held liable for Schaffhausen’s death if he commits suicide and wasn’t provided a counselor.
In a court hearing on Tuesday, the prosecution and defense lawyers discussed whether to allow a counselor to visit Schaffhausen in jail. The defense claimed the counselor was trying to elicit information about the incident from Schaffhausen but the judge allowed the visits to continue.
Schaffhausen is accused of killing his three daughters, Amara, Sophie, and Cecilia at their River Falls home last month while his ex-wife was away at work.
In court on Tuesday, Schaffhausen sat mostly in silence, only responding “yes” when asked if he understood the charges against him. His attorney decided they would be “standing mute,” so by Wisconsin law, the judge entered a “not guilty” plea for Schaffhausen.
His next court date will be Sept. 20.
