An Oregon man has pleaded guilty to murder after killing his 78-year-old mother, who had been his legal guardian and primary caregiver.
On Oct. 15, 53-year-old Chad Brix pleaded guilty except for insanity to one count of second-degree murder in connection with the February 2024 death of his mother, Virginia Brix, according to Clackamas County authorities. He has been committed to the Oregon State Hospital and will remain under the supervision of the state’s Psychiatric Security Review Board.
Authorities said Brix had long suffered from schizophrenia, leading to paranoid delusions, impulsive behavior, and auditory hallucinations. Diagnosed more than 15 years ago, he had been hospitalized multiple times.
Virginia was appointed as her son’s legal guardian in 2022 and frequently traveled from her home near Seattle to Lake Oswego, Oregon, to check on him.
On the day of her death, Brix texted his father, admitting he had killed his mother. When police arrived, they found Virginia’s body covered in blankets. Brix reportedly told investigators he believed she had been drugging him and that he stabbed her while she slept.
According to officials, Brix’s brother said their mother had spent around $460,000 trying to support Chad’s financial needs and medical care.
In court, Brix’s ex-wife and daughters described years of fear following his diagnosis, saying they had lived in constant worry over his unpredictable behavior. “He was at war with his own mind,” one of his daughters told the court, according to county authorities.
Addressing his family briefly during sentencing, Brix said, “I sincerely apologize. I didn’t mean to do it. I’m so sorry.”
