GUILTY PA - Ruth Shirey, 72, retired Professor, murdered in her Indiana home, 20 Feb 2015 *Son arrested*

Police are also asking for help in locating a vehicle that may have been stolen from the residence, a gold or tan Ford Taurus... If you see this vehicle, please use extreme caution, do not approach the vehicle or the driver, Call 9-1-1 immediately.

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Todd Walters, of Indiana, was ordered today to stand trial for the beating death of his mother, retired Indiana University of Pennsylvania professor Ruth Shirey, early last year in their Second Ward home...

Todd Walters remains in Indiana County Jail without bond.

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A mentally ill Indiana man charged in the beating death of his mother has only a faint chance of becoming competent to assist in his defense and has been ordered to undergo treatment at Torrance State Hospital for up to one year in the hope that his condition might improve, an Indiana County judge ruled Friday.

A forensic psychiatrist testified that Todd Royce Walters, 38, has severe paranoid schizophrenia and has believed for two years that his mother, Ruth Shirey, is still alive and taking part in a conspiracy against him.

“He lacks the mental capacity at this time to proceed in this case,” psychiatrist Clarence Watson testified. “Mr. Walters’ prognosis for recovery is very poor.”

President Judge William Martin declined to dismiss the criminal charges in the case but said he would consider defense attorney Leonard Ambrose’s request to divert Walters to a less secure mental health facility and civil, rather than criminal, commitment under the state’s Mental Health Procedures Act.

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On September 28th, Judge Martin ordered a review hearing of Walters’ involuntary treatment, scheduling it for March 9th of next year. He further ordered the Torrance psychiatric staff to examine Walters and provide the court and Walters’ attorney with a report, specifically on whether or not Walters believes his mother is deceased and whether or not he is competent to stand trial.

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Three psychiatrists were divided Friday in their opinions of whether an Indiana man is mentally fit to stand trial for the beating death of his mother three years ago.

Two suggested that Todd Royce Walters, 39, who has been diagnosed with severe paranoid schizophrenia, not only understands the charges he faces and the workings of the court system but now has the capacity to assist his lawyers in putting up a defense.

A third expert testified in a competency hearing before Judge William Martin that Walters has fashioned his responses in recent mental evaluations to give the appearance that his symptoms have eased and to mask his delusions that his mother has not been dead for three years.

After almost five hours of testimony, Martin closed the hearing and said he would rule later on whether he believes Walters is able to take part in his trial.

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