It’s been about two-and-a-half months since there have been any developments in the Todd Walters homicide case, but there could be significant progress toward a trial today. Indiana County President Judge William Martin has scheduled a pretrial conference, at which he has indicated he may set a trial date.
The 40-year-old Walters is accused of beating to death his mother, 72-year-old Ruth Shirey, almost four years ago at the home the two shared on Diamond Avenue in Indiana. She died hours after the early-morning attack, and Walters was found driving her car in Altoona later that day. Since his arrest, he’s has undergone a series of mental health evaluations and been involuntarily committed to Torrance State Hospital. He was on medication for his mental health issues before his mother’s death, but his father testified at a 2016 hearing that Walters had stopped taking his meds at the time of the beating.
Walters was finally determined to be fit to stand trial last June, and in September, his attorney filed notice that he will pursue an insanity defense. District Attorney Pat Dougherty will ask for a verdict of guilty, or guilty but mentally ill.
Today’s pretrial conference is scheduled for 10 AM.
