CANTON, Ohio (AP) - An Ohio musician charged with the slayings of his mother and brother is competent to stand trial, a judge ruled.
Jacob Stockdale, 27, is charged with murder in the June 2017 shotgun slayings of Kathryn Stockdale, 54, and James Stockdale, 21, at the family’s Bethlehem Township home. Authorities said Stockdale shot himself after the killings.
He was found competent on Wednesday, The Independent reported.
Stockdale initially sought a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. He was admitted to Heartland Behavioral Healthcare for treatment in May after one psychologist deemed him competent and another determined he wasn’t mentally fit.
The psychologist assigned to Stockdale’s treatment team submitted a report to the Stark County Common Pleas Court on Jan. 24, concluding that he was competent.
A message seeking comment was left Thursday for Stockdale’s attorney.
Jacob and James, along with their father Timothy Stockdale, were members of the Stockdale Family band known for bluegrass music.
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