Mentally ill Greensburg mother to serve prison sentence for daughter's attempted murder

A Greensburg woman told a Westmoreland County judge she believed her best option to protect herself and her then-6-year-old daughter from an imagined serial killer with whom she believed she had been romantically involved was to end their lives in her own way.

Skye C. Naggy, 32, on Friday insisted she now understands she suffered from mental illness on Oct. 25, 2022, when she managed to evade a potential involuntary hospital commitment, kidnapped her daughter and drove her out to a secluded area near Loyalhanna Lake where, with an open Bible nearby, gave the child doses of an opioid and fentanyl.

“My only goal was to save my daughter from a serial killer. I did not realize I had schizophrenia until it was too late,” Naggy said before she was ordered to serve up to two decades in prison. “If any unstoppable killer came after you, wouldn’t you make an escape plan? I promise I was just trying to save us. ...”

She said she believed a peaceful death was the only alternative for her and her daughter.

Naggy in January pleaded guilty but mentally ill to charges of attempted homicide, aiding suicide, aggravated assault, kidnapping, interference with child custody and child endangerment.

Two psychiatrists testified that Naggy was originally diagnosed with schizophrenia following her arrest. During an evaluation following her guilty plea earlier this year, they said she continued to show signs of mental illness.

Dr. Louis Martone testified Naggy required ongoing treatment. He recommended that she receive it in a secure environment and not be released from custody.

Martone said Naggy continued to experience delusions, but now she realizes those are not real and are a condition of her illness.

“This is something she will need to be treated for for the rest of her life,” Martone testified.

The defense sought a mitigated sentence for Naggy, saying a lengthy prison term would not allow her to receive the treatment she needs. Public Defender Wayne McGrew argued that Naggy should be hospitalized prior to incarceration, where she should serve just five years behind bars.

“She has no criminal history and was not involved in the mental health system before this break. She should be in a treatment setting and that should be a hospital setting,” McGrew said. “It is a terrible thing that happened, but mental illness is also a terrible thing.”

Prosecutors asked that Naggy serve a 15-to-40 year prison sentence to ensure her daughter and the community is protected. Assistant District Attorney Jim Lazar argued Naggy would be a danger to herself, her daughter and other potential children she could have if released from prison in the coming years.

“Your honor has to take into account the risk involved in making sure her release isn’t earlier than it has to be,” Lazar said.

Common Pleas Judge Christopher Feliciani said he considered Naggy’s treatment needs and ultimately decided she did not require immediate inpatient care before serving a prison sentence.

As a result, the judge ordered Naggy to serve 10 to 20 years in prison and an additional five years on probation and that she continue to receive mental health treatment while in custody.

Naggy was given credit for the more than 900 days she been in custody since her arrest. She won’t be eligible for parole until 2032.