Woman asks for plea in NorthPark Mall murder case

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By Ann McGlynn | Monday, September 22, 2008 4:05 PM CDT | () comments

A woman accused of trailing her ex-husband, a carnival worker, across the country before stabbing him to death here is set to plead guilty Friday.

Debi Olson, 53, asked for the plea hearing in the case, in which she is charged with first-degree murder and willful injury causing serious injury, said Jerald Feuerbach, first assistant Scott County attorney. According to court records, she is acting as her own attorney.

Olson is accused of stabbing Mauricio Droguett, 52, in July at NorthPark Mall in Davenport. He was a comptroller for the Carson & Barnes Family Circus based in Hugo, Okla.

Droguett was walking in the mall for exercise with a co-worker early on July 10 as crews set up circus equipment in the north parking lot behind the Sears and Von Maur department stores, officials said.

As Droguett and the co-worker approached the south entrance to Von Maur inside the mall, Olson appeared and began stabbing Droguett, Capt. David Struckman said at the time. He was stabbed more than 10 times in the torso and groin. Police on patrol near the mall arrived inside of two minutes but found Droguett dead at the scene.

Mall security was on the scene immediately and helped to restrain the woman, Struckman said.

Just 11 days before, Olson was accused of trying to attack him with a hammer and knife during a circus stop in Ohio, according to police reports. Droguett escaped that attack.

Olson, of Sarasota, Fla., has Huntington’s disease, a genetically transmitted brain ailment characterized by abnormal body movements, a family member said. Mental disorders also are a symptom of the disease.

Olson is being held at the Scott County Jail.

Ann McGlynn can be contacted at (563) 383-2336 or amcglynn@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.