MANSFIELD — One of Patsy Hudson’s alleged killers, Walter Renz, was scheduled to face Richland County Common Pleas Court Judge James DeWeese and a jury Tuesday morning. Instead, he will prepare for a court-ordered mental evaluation, according to court records.
The motion for Renz to be mentally evaluated was filed by his defense attorney, Joshua Brown. It was upheld Monday by DeWeese. Brown could not be immediately reached for comment on this story.
The case remains delayed until Renz’s mental evaluation is completed, a process which usually spans approximately six weeks, said Prosecutor Bambi Couch Page.
“If there is suspicion that may impede his ability to be at trial and understand the proceedings, it’s better to do it now than years later. We’ve seen them come back 20 years later (and have their original sentencing reversed),” Couch Page said.
Renz was charged with murder, along with numerous other charges, including tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse in April. He was re-indicted in May with one additional charge: identity fraud.
The prosecutor’s office began issuing subpoenas to witnesses to testify against Renz in April. To date, court records show a total of around 30 witnesses including the Richland County Coroner, Mansfield Police Department detectives, OhioHealth Mansfield and Shelby employees and Dr. Dennis Dirkmaat of Mercyhurst University.
Patricia Rentz, Hudson’s sister who filed a missing person’s report on Dec. 22, 2015, was also subpoenaed to testify.
Renz’s alleged conspirator, Linda Buckner, is scheduled to face DeWeese and a jury on Thursday, Sept. 1.
