Ridgewood artist avoids murder conviction after admitting to killing roommate

Carolyn Bush, a beloved writer, was stabbed to death by Render Stetson-Shanahan in September 2016. Stetson-Shanahan was convicted of manslaughter Thursday. Photo courtesy of Pamela Tinnen.

By David Brand

A Ridgewood man who admitted to stabbing his roommate to death in September 2016 avoided a murder conviction Thursday, after his attorney mounted an insanity defense to justify his actions the night of the brutal killing.

Render Stetson-Shanahan, 29, was instead convicted of second-degree manslaughter following a months-long bench trial before Queens Judge Richard Buchter. 

Stetson-Shanahan stabbed his roommate Carolyn Bush to death inside the apartment they shared in September 2016. He had smoked marijuana and drank alcohol earlier in the day and began acting erratically the night of the killing, walking around Ridgewood in nothing but his underwear.

After killing Bush, Stetson-Shanahan sliced himself in the leg, and roamed the streets, punching car windows and threatening a passerby. He returned to the apartment and laid in bed to wait for the police. He never denied killing Bush.

Defense attorney Zachary Margulis-Ohana said during his summation that Stetson-Shanahan’s behavior was a clear sign of a “total psychotic break” that caused him to do “something unspeakably horrible.” 

Queens prosecutors argued that he was aware of his actions and was even able to recount the killing to cops later that night. “This was a horribly disturbing case,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said.

But Stetson-Shanahan avoided a second-degree murder conviction because Buchter said Queens prosecutors failed to prove that he had intentionally killed Bush, “regardless of whether the defendant’s mental condition at the time of the offenses rose to the level of legal insanity.” Queens prosecutors said he was aware of his actions the night of the stabbing assault and was even able to describe what happened immediately after the killing.  

Friends of Bush, a beloved writer, said they were stunned by the verdict.  Several spoke with the Eagle last month about Bush’s profound impact on their lives.

“We are in shock,” said Bush’s best friend Pamela Tinnen. “‘It’s really hard to swallow.”

Tinnen said she and other friends and loved ones will submit victim impact statements to the judge ahead of March 26 sentencing. 

After that, she said, they “will do what we can do to make sure she’s not forgotten.”