A Franklin County judge has ruled that Booker Moody is not competent to stand trial. Moody was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of his 19-year-old granddaughter.
Columbus Police say that the 73-year-old Perry County resident thought his granddaughter was an intruder, and fatally shot her.
Both the defense and prosecution agreed with the judge’s decision.
“A psychologist concluded the defendant did not understand the nature or the circumstances of the charges, and, due to a mental health condition, primarily dementia, was unable to consult with them and defend in the case,” says Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien.
O’Brien says the family did not want his office to pursue charges, but the process offers some benefits, like a professional psychologist’s perspective and supervision.
“If no charges were pursued to court, no one else other than the family would be in a position of monitoring this individual," O'Brien says. "And it was a failure to monitor the individual that resulted in the crime in the first place.”
Moody will continue to be held in a secure medical facility in Perry County and monitored by a forensic team.
“Having a requirement of a court-ordered supervision and an order in the type of facility he would be maintained going forward, were necessary to protect the public, despite the feelings of the family,” O'Brien says.
