Judge William Martin has issued another ruling in the Todd Walters homicide case. Walters is the Indiana man accused of beating his mother to death in February of 2015. 72-year-old retired IUP professor Ruth Shirey passed away at the Indiana Regional Medical Center hours after the beating, and that afternoon her son was arrested while driving her car in Altoona.
Judge Martin has granted District Attorney Pat Dougherty’s motion for an independent forensic evaluation of the 39-year-old Walters, who has been held for involuntary mental health treatment at Torrance State Hospital since January of last year. Dr. Neil Blumberg will evaluate Walters next Wednesday at Torrance, to determine whether or not he is fit for trial.
Earlier this week, the judge ruled that a review hearing would have to be rescheduled because Torrance had failed to provide a required mental health report on time. That hearing will be held on April 3rd.
In another development, a joint motion was filed yesterday asking the court for permission to use Torrance witnesses as court witnesses.
