Teen pleads insanity in Manchester robbery-killing
PORT ORCHARD, Wash. (AP) - A Kitsap County teenager charged with stabbing an elderly neighbor to death has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
The Kitsap Sun reports 18-year-old Daniel J. Mustard entered the plea Friday in the Kitsap County Superior Court.
Mustard had previously pleaded not guilty to aggravated first-degree murder in the stabbing of Ruby Andrews, his 87-year-old neighbor, during a robbery at her home in Manchester in April 2009.
In the court filing, Mustard says he believes he was legally insane at the time of the killing. He says that he's competent to stand trail, but claims to suffer from several disorders, including psychosis and bipolar disorder.
If convicted he faces a mandatory life prison term without parole.
The victim's body was found by her elderly husband when he returned home from a visit to the hospital.
Prosecutors allege Mustard stabbed Andrews in the bathroom, then stole money, Andrews' wedding ring, money from a picture frame, a revolver, and left in the couple's Cadillac.
Mustard's mother told detectives shortly after his arrest that her son has a history of mental health issues and was schizophrenic from drug use.
Just days before Andrews' murder, deputies responded to reports he was wielding a knife and making threatening gestures at his home.
Police took him to the hospital for a mental evaluation, but he was later released.
The Kitsap Sun reports 18-year-old Daniel J. Mustard entered the plea Friday in the Kitsap County Superior Court.
Mustard had previously pleaded not guilty to aggravated first-degree murder in the stabbing of Ruby Andrews, his 87-year-old neighbor, during a robbery at her home in Manchester in April 2009.
In the court filing, Mustard says he believes he was legally insane at the time of the killing. He says that he's competent to stand trail, but claims to suffer from several disorders, including psychosis and bipolar disorder.
If convicted he faces a mandatory life prison term without parole.
The victim's body was found by her elderly husband when he returned home from a visit to the hospital.
Prosecutors allege Mustard stabbed Andrews in the bathroom, then stole money, Andrews' wedding ring, money from a picture frame, a revolver, and left in the couple's Cadillac.
Mustard's mother told detectives shortly after his arrest that her son has a history of mental health issues and was schizophrenic from drug use.
Just days before Andrews' murder, deputies responded to reports he was wielding a knife and making threatening gestures at his home.
Police took him to the hospital for a mental evaluation, but he was later released.