A woman who beheaded her mother during an argument over a food order has made chilling threats to her prison mates. In July 2019, Jessica Camilleri clashed with her mother, Rita, after Rita ordered chicken from Red Rooster but Jessica wanted more food. The situation escalated when Rita, 57, entered Jessica’s room to take away her phone. Rita, a full-time carer, had previously confiscated Jessica’s phone due to her obsessive behavior towards a local butcher.
The horrifying incident unfolded in the quiet western Sydney neighborhood where Camilleri resided. Camilleri recounted to forensic psychiatrist Professor David Greenberg that her mother started the physical altercation by slapping her. In a fit of rage, Camilleri dragged her mother to the kitchen by her hair, grabbed a knife, and proceeded to stab her repeatedly. She admitted that her inspiration for decapitating her mother came from violent movies like “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “Jeepers Creepers,” and “Saw,” believing it would end her mother’s suffering.
Six and a half years after the gruesome crime, Camilleri remains unrepentant and continues to intimidate her fellow inmates at the notorious Silverwater Maximum Security Correctional Complex in Australia. She has boasted about killing her mother and has threatened to behead other prisoners if they upset her, as reported by the Mail Online. Camilleri’s behavior towards both inmates and officers has resulted in additional charges, including assaulting prison staff.
Scheduled for sentencing on February 17 for various assaults, Camilleri’s initial manslaughter charge in 2020 was due to her claimed mental health issues. Despite a reduced sentence of 16 years and six months, with eligibility for parole in 2031, her recent violent outbursts may prolong her time behind bars. Descriptions of Camilleri’s heinous act, including cutting out her mother’s tongue and eyes, have shocked even her fellow inmates. When emergency services arrived, Camilleri was found covered in blood and displayed disturbing behavior, asking if her mother could be revived without a head.
Camilleri’s violent history and lack of remorse paint a dark picture of her future within the prison system, with her upcoming court appearance likely to result in further incarceration.