Has a Sleepwalker Ever Killed Someone?

Homicidal sleepwalking, also known as homicidal somnambulism or sleepwalking murder, is the act of killing someone during an episode of sleepwalking. ... One such case is that of Kenneth Parks, who was acquitted of the murder of his mother-in-law in 1987 after using the sleepwalking defense.

What happens if a sleepwalker kills someone?

In general, a person can't be convicted of a crime if he or she acted involuntarily; If a jury concluded that a defendant was unconscious when he or she killed another person, the jury could acquit the defendant on the basis of automatism.”

Has anyone died sleepwalking?

It's rare, but experts say it's definitely possible to die while sleepwalking. “Of course it's dangerous,” said Dr. Colin Shapiro, a University of Toronto professor and director of the Youthdale Child & Adolescent Sleep Clinic. “People can essentially do anything,” he said.