A Florida man accused of fatally stabbing his boss with a trowel in 2020 following a political argument was found not guilty by reason of insanity, according to court records.
In January 2020, Mason Trever Toney was working at a construction site near Florida's Turnpike alongside his boss, William Steven Knight, 28, who was also a longtime friend, WKMG reported.
Witnesses reported that the two got into a heated argument, allegedly over politics, as Knight was a "proud and outspoken American and pro-Donald Trump," while Toney harbored anti-government beliefs, according to records obtained by the outlet.
The dispute reportedly escalated into a violent attack, leaving Knight dead at the scene.
Knight screamed for help as Toney allegedly repeatedly stabbed him with a trowel, witnesses reported. Coworkers tried to intervene, throwing objects at Toney, but he fled in a truck, reportedly calling them "terrorists" before being arrested later that day in Brevard County.
When deputies arrived at the crime scene, they found Knight's body next to an excavator, with an American flag draped nearby. Despite the alleged political argument preceding the attack, Knight's mother insisted that the killing was not politically motivated, but rather a result of Toney's mental instability.
After nearly five years of legal proceedings, on February 7, Toney was found not guilty by reason of insanity during a non-jury trial. The ruling means he will be committed to a psychiatric facility rather than serving prison time.
A review hearing is scheduled for August 11 at the Orange County Courthouse to assess his mental health status and determine the next steps in his treatment.
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