Dale Maloney, accused of fatally shooting neighbor Richard Diehl a year ago, will be committed to a mental health facility because he is not competent to stand trial.
Allen County District Judge Daniel Creitz handed down the commitment ruling on Wednesday, one year to the day of Diehl’s shooting.
Creitz’s order came after doctors at the Larned State Security Hospital concluded after a 90-day evaluation that Maloney, 79, is unlikely to ever become competent enough to stand trial.
Maloney suffered from dementia, family members said, after he was accused of fatally shooting Diehl, 68, in his garage in the early morning hours of May 3, 2002.
In his ruling, Creitz ruled that the Kansas Department of Age and Disability Services will oversee Maloney’s involuntary commitment proceedings.
