Mother’s preliminary hearing postponed again

Judge Thomas Willmore orders a mental competency evaluation for Heidi Rutchey, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, in 1st District Court, in Logan, Utah. Rutchey is charged with killing her three-year-old son. 

LOGAN – A preliminary hearing for a River Height’s mother accused of killing her two-year-old son was postponed again, Thursday afternoon. Heidi Marie Rutchey appeared in 1st District Court briefly with her attorney, David Perry.

Perry requested the postponement so that Rutchey could undergo a mental health evaluation, to determine if she is competent to stand trial.

After leaving the courtroom, Perry said this has been a difficult ordeal for Rutchey and it is taking an emotional toll on her.

“It seems like emotionally, things are getting more difficult for her,” said Perry. “It just seemed appropriate at this time, based upon my interactions with her, that we needed to have this looked at, to see whether she can understand what’s going on and whether she’s emotionally capable of understanding the legal process and what she’s facing.”

Perry said two examiners from the state hospital will be ordered to evaluate her. Judge Thomas Willmore has set a conference date for January 13th, to review their evaluation. Perry said he is going to try and expedite the evaluation, so it is completed in time.

Rutchey’s preliminary hearing had been postponed before, after Perry had requested a personal investigator, review details of the charges against her.

Rutchey was arrested on first-degree murder charges, October 24th, in connection with the death of her son Eli Rutchey. She is currently being held in maximum security at the Cache County Jail, on $100,000 bail.

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!