MOUNT VERNON — Knox County Common Pleas Judge Richard Wetzel has ruled that Patrick Yoder is incompetent at this time to stand trial for aggravated murder.
Yoder has been in the Knox County Jail since he was arrested on March 8 for aggravated murder with a firearms specification.
Wetzel ordered the 36-year-old Yoder to remain in jail without bond until a bed becomes available in the Timothy B. Moritz Forensic Unit.
The treatment center is a 52-bed unit on the campus of Central Ohio Behavioral Healthcare (COBH).
At Wednesday’s competency hearing, Knox County Prosecutor Chip McConville said a May 10 mental health evaluation found that Yoder is not currently competent to stand trial.
However, he said treatment could restore Yoder to competency and recommended admitting him to COBH.
Erica Young, assistant Knox County public defender, represented the defendant in court. She agreed with the report’s findings and McConville’s recommendation.
Public Defender John Dankovich appeared with Yoder via video.
Wetzel said the 17-page report noted that, in the examiner’s opinion, Yoder was capable of understanding the charges. However, he was incapable of assisting in his defense.
The report further noted the Timothy B. Moritz Forensic Unit was the least restrictive environment in which Yoder could receive treatment and that he could be restored in that environment.
In addition to remaining in the county jail until a bed opens, Wetzel ordered Yoder to stay compliant with his COBH medication regimen.
Yoder’s restoration timeline begins the day he is admitted to COBH.
Yoder allegedly knew his victim from work
A Knox County grand jury indicted Yoder on March 10 following an incident at the Dollar General store on Coshocton Avenue.
According to the Mount Vernon Police Department, Yoder followed Justin Proper into the store and shot him multiple times with a 9 mm pistol.
The police investigation revealed Yoder knew Proper from a work assignment.
Officers arrived at the store around 4:17 p.m.
Yoder fled the store, but Knox County Sheriff’s deputies located his vehicle on Coshocton Avenue and took him into custody.