Testimony during the sentencing phase of Robert Bowers' trial painted a picture of a deeply unstable life marked by mental illness, family dysfunction, and repeated suicide attempts. Katherine Porterfield, a clinical psychologist testifying for the defense, described Bowers' childhood as "laden with trauma, neglect, and abuse from before he was born."

Bowers, 50, was convicted last month on 63 counts for the 2018 attack on the Tree of Life synagogue, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. He faces a possible death penalty. Porterfield’s testimony highlighted Bowers' turbulent teen and adult years, including multiple suicide attempts, an unstable home life, and difficulty maintaining employment despite high intelligence test scores. He was fired from his longest-held job, a truck driver position, for theft.

While Porterfield did not formally diagnose Bowers, she pointed to his history of suicidal behavior, psychiatric hospitalizations, and antidepressant prescriptions as indicators of deteriorating mental health. "He doesn’t have friends. He has a hard time leaving his house," Porterfield stated. "His job doesn’t match his intelligence. We just see a person who cannot function."

Porterfield's testimony also touched on Bowers' brief involvement with religion, including attending Bible study and being baptized in 2016, which he soon abandoned. She also referenced a concerning incident from decades earlier, where Bowers reportedly told a coworker he kept a gun in case the United Nations "blue hats" came, hinting at conspiratorial thinking.

The defense's presentation of Bowers' troubled background aims to provide mitigating factors for the jury to consider as they decide whether to impose the death penalty. Last week, the jury found Bowers eligible for the death penalty. Now, they are weighing aggravating factors, such as the vulnerability of the victims, against any mitigating circumstances. Survivors and family members of the victims have also testified, sharing the devastating impact of the attack.

Under cross-examination, Porterfield acknowledged that trauma doesn't justify harming others. The prosecution questioned Porterfield's reliance on interviews with Bowers' mother, given her cognitive issues, and highlighted aspects of Bowers' life that seemed to contradict the defense’s portrayal, such as holding responsible jobs and paying bills on time.

Further testimony revealed details of Bowers’ early childhood, including his father’s violent behavior towards his mother and subsequent suicide while facing a rape charge. An aunt of Bowers also testified, offering limited insight into his family history, noting estrangement between her husband and Bowers' father and a troubled family background.