The fate of alleged killer Stephen Marlow remained uncertain Friday following a court hearing to determine his competency, or lack thereof, to stand trial.
Marlow, 42, is accused of shooting four neighbors in Butler Township in August 2022, including a veteran and his wife, as well as a high school student and her mother.
He has been confined to Summit Behavioral Healthcare in Cincinnati since January of this year, where he is being treated for delusional disorders.
Marlow, who was present for the hearing on Friday morning, sat quietly at the defendant’s desk, occasionally taking notes and speaking with his lawyer as defense attorneys and prosecutors presented their arguments to Montgomery County Judge Dennis Adkins.
The two sides argued over whether Marlow’s competency could be restored within the one-year statutory limit, as well as whether the court should pursue civil commitment or continued court jurisdiction in the case.
While Dr. April Sutton, a forensic psychologist at Summit, determined in a May report that Marlow had been restored to competency despite continuing delusions, she has since claimed otherwise.
Based on her most recent evaluation of Marlow, Sutton believes the defendant’s condition deteriorated from May to November, despite medication adjustments, and that he is now incompetent to stand trial.
Sutton also stated during Friday’s hearing that she does not believe Marlow can be restored to competency within the one-year period, which expires on January 17 at the latest.
Despite continued treatment at Summit, which included antipsychotic medications and group sessions, Marlow’s delusions persisted and even worsened, according to Sutton.
It is also unclear when Marlow’s one-year treatment window will expire.
Prosecutors argued that because Marlow has refused to fully participate in his treatment regimen, occasionally declining to attend individual psychotherapy and competency restoration groups recommended by his treatment team, the time to restore should be extended for one year.
