He walked into the sheriff's office covered in blood and confessed immediately. Three years later, a judge is still trying to determine whether he's mentally fit to stand trial at all.
Levi Axtell, 27, was charged with second-degree murder after killing 77-year-old Lawrence Scully at Scully's home in Grand Marais, Minnesota, on March 8, 2023. The case has drawn national attention and remains unresolved years later, complicated by serious questions about Axtell's mental health.
A Documented Conviction, Decades Earlier
Scully had been convicted in 1979 of sexually assaulting a 6-year-old child in Kanabec County, Minnesota, a case that resurfaced publicly when he unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Grand Marais in 2014.
Unproven Allegations, Years Before the Killing
In 2018, Axtell sought a protective order against Scully, alleging he had been stalking and attempting to groom his then 22-month-old daughter, describing seeing Scully's vehicle parked near her daycare on multiple occasions. A judge initially granted a temporary order but later denied a permanent one, explicitly ruling that the allegations had not been proven. Cook County's sheriff has said the department investigated prior complaints against Scully over the years but never found evidence to substantiate them.
The Killing
On the afternoon of March 8, 2023, Axtell entered Scully's home and struck him repeatedly with a shovel before using a moose antler, according to a criminal complaint. He then drove directly to the Cook County Sheriff's Office, covered in blood, and confessed. There was no specific triggering incident documented immediately before the attack.
A Case Complicated by Mental Illness
Court-appointed psychologists who evaluated Axtell found he suffers from schizoaffective disorder, involving persistent hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia, along with a severe alcohol use disorder. Evaluators noted Axtell had developed a fixed, years-long belief that Scully posed an ongoing danger to children, a belief some evidence suggests may not have reflected his actual actions. One evaluator reported that Axtell described himself as a "hero" for killing Scully and believed others in the community felt relieved by what he'd done — beliefs the court found reflected genuine delusional thinking rather than a considered moral position.
Years of Competency Proceedings
Judges repeatedly found Axtell not competent to stand trial between 2023 and 2025, citing ongoing delusions that prevented him from meaningfully participating in his own defense, and he was committed to Minnesota's Forensic Mental Health Program for treatment. In 2026, following further evaluation, a judge found Axtell had become competent to proceed, over his own defense attorneys' objections. As of the most recent reporting, his case remains ongoing.
A Divided Community
The case split public opinion sharply, with some viewing Axtell's actions as understandable given his stated fears for children's safety, and others viewing the killing as an unjustified act of violence against a man whose alleged recent wrongdoing was never actually established. The case has drawn coverage from national commentators and is reportedly the subject of an in-progress documentary film.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Lawrence Scully actually stalking Axtell's daughter?
This was never proven. A judge explicitly ruled in 2018 that the allegations weren't substantiated, and Cook County's sheriff has said investigations into prior complaints against Scully never found supporting evidence.
Has Levi Axtell been convicted of murder?
No. His case remains ongoing; he was found not competent to stand trial for several years before a 2026 ruling found him competent to proceed.
What was Lawrence Scully's criminal history?
He was convicted in 1979 of sexually assaulting a 6-year-old child, decades before his death.