10-15-2018
MOUNT VERNON, Wash. — A Mount Vernon man accused of murdering his landlord in 2012 had charges against him dropped on Thursday after a judge found the man was not competent to stand trial.
Justin Morgan Daly’s trial for bludgeoning his landlord and taking a chainsaw to his head has been delayed numerous times due to conflicting reports on Daly’s mental health.
The Skagit Valley Herald reports the most recent competency evaluation was not completed because Daly refused to leave his cell, so the judge based his decision on previous reports.
Daly will be evaluated for civil commitment to a psychiatric hospital for a second time after his case was first dismissed for competency reasons in 2016.