Man pleads guilty to killing girlfriend before burying her in backyard
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IDAHO FALLS — An Idaho Falls man accused of killing and burying his girlfriend pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.
Philip Michael Schwab, 35, appeared before District Judge Bruce Pickett Tuesday and admitted to murdering Kaylynn Blue on June 23, 2019. Investigators discovered Blue’s body concealed in a shallow grave in their Idaho Falls backyard.
The Bonneville County Prosecutor’s Office is recommending Schwab serve 25 years to life in prison for the crime. Schwab’s defense attorney recommended a minimum of 15 years in prison.
Court documents outline the disturbing details surrounding the murder. Schwab told detectives that days before the stabbing, he placed a knife in a dresser drawer. He then posted hundreds of bizarre messages on his Facebook page, many alluding to the crime he committed.
Schwab’s case has brought unique factors to the table. Doctors have previously diagnosed him with a disability that made it difficult for him to understand legal proceedings. Defense attorneys filed documents in 2019 saying Schwab was diagnosed with 22q 11.2 deletion or DiGeorge Syndrome. One symptom of the syndrome is developmental delays causing difficulties in understanding.
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According to the National Institutes of Health, DiGeorge Syndrome symptoms vary widely from person to person. An estimated 1 in 4,000 people are diagnosed with the disorder each year and people with the syndrome are at an increased risk of developing mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder.
Prosecutors declined to pursue the death penalty despite the “overwhelming evidence in the case” and “utter disregard for human life.” Court documents include Schwab has an IQ of 76 make issuing the death penalty unwarranted.
Pickett ordered a pre-sentence investigation before Schwab is sentenced June 30.