The attorney for Todd Walters yesterday filed a second motion to determine whether his client is competent to stand trial for the murder of his mother.
The 40-year-old Walters is accused of beating his mother to death in February of 2015. 72-year-old Ruth Shirey died at the Indiana Regional Medical Center hours after the attack and Walters was found later that day driving her car in Altoona. Since his arrest, Walters has undergone a series of mental health evaluations and been involuntarily committed to Torrance State Hospital. He was finally determined to be fit to stand trial last June, but in April, police say he suddenly attacked a fellow Torrance patient, putting him in a chokehold and causing a cut finger and muscle strain. He’s charged with misdemeanor strangulation and simple assault and summary harassment in that case.
In January, Indiana County President Judge William Martin ordered Walters back to Torrance while attorneys awaited the result of a new evaluation by a mental health expert.
Walters is charged in Indiana County with criminal homicide and aggravated assault. Defense attorney Gary Knaresboro, who filed the new motion yesterday, has told the court he will pursue an insanity defense. District Attorney Pat Dougherty has said he will ask the jury for a verdict of guilty, or guilty but mentally ill.
