Family Protests Carneh Court Decision
A judge dismissed quadruple murder charges against Leemah Carneh Monday.
He's accused of killing four people in Des Moines four and a half years ago.
After a see-saw battle spanning nearly 5 years, a King County judge ruled Carneh is not competent to stand trial.
Mental health experts say Carneh's paranoid and delusional.
But prosecutor Roger Davidheiser said, "We forget too often about the victims in a case."
The victims were Dick and Jane Larson, their teenage grandson Taelor Marks, and his girlfriend Josie Peterson.
They were murdered nearly five years ago in the Larson's Des Moines home.
But instead of going on trial, Carneh is headed for Western State Hospital, leaving the victim's family with a single, burning question -- Where is justice?
"Extreme disappointment," said Lorraine Marks, who was Taelor Mark's mother. "I think when you heard the words 'dismissed' associated with four counts of aggravated homicide, that plays with your mind."
Josie's mother Mary Marrero says the justice system just wants them to go home and live a normal live, but she adds that's just not possible. She says now, the wait for justice is killing her.
"It's been very depressing -- a lot of anger," she said. "My kids can't adjust to going to school because we never know when our next court date is."
If and when Carneh gets better, prosecutors plan to re-file murder charges.
"We certainly have every reason to believe in the not too distant future we'll be able to bring Mr. Carneh back before the criminal courts," said prosecutor Roger Davidheiser.
But it won't be soon enough for the victim's families.
"What I want to do is see this predator off the streets," Lorraine Marks said. "Not in a restorative facility, but in prison, where he belongs."
Carneh will be sent to Western State Hospital indefinitely. Periodically, doctors will review his progress not only in terms of his mental state, but whether or not he's a threat to himself or the community.