A competency hearing was held Wednesday morning in Marshall County Superior Court No. 1 where medical reports from two appointed psychiatrists were submitted to Judge Robert O. Bowen in the case of murder suspect Duane Longacre.
Longacre is accused of murder in the stabbing death of Jill McCarty at a Plymouth home in late June. He then reportedly started a fire at the residence.
Marshall County Prosecutor Nelson Chipman said both the State and defense asked Judge Bowen to rely on the reports submitted. During Wednesday’s brief hearing, Judge Bowen determined that Longacre was competent to stand trial.
A status hearing will be held December 17. At that hearing, if a plea agreement has not been successfully negotiated, a trial date will be set.
During Longacre’s initial hearing in Marshall County Superior Court 1 on June 30, he responded to allegations of the murder charge stating, “Your honor, I did knowingly and intentionally kill something, but it wasn’t a human being.”
Additionally, in late July, Longacre allegedly intentionally injured himself by breaking a pinky finger while incarcerated at the Marshall County Jail. After he was transported to the hospital for treatment, he reportedly attempted to bite off the finger. Longacre explained that the devil, or someone working for the devil, instructed him to do it, according to court documents.
Longacre is charged with murder, arson as Level 4 Felony and resisting law enforcement as a Class A Misdemeanor. He has an additional Level 5 Felony count of prisoner possessing dangerous device or material and a Class B Misdemeanor count of criminal mischief in the separate case.
