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Judge orders competency evaluation for Fauquier teen accused in deaths of his mom, brother
3/6/2021
Fauquier County Circuit Court Judge Jeanette Irby granted a second “not guilty by reason of insanity” evaluation Friday for a Fauquier County teen accused of fatally shooting his mother and younger brother on Valentine's Day 2020.
The request was granted over the commonwealth’s objection, according to deputy public defender Ryan Ruzic, who is representing Levi Norwood, 18. Another competency to stand trial evaluation was also ordered. The evaluations must be completed within 60 days. The court will review the findings in May.
The Friday, March 5, hearing was originally scheduled to set a trial date in the case, but Ruzic’s successful motion to assess Norwood's competency and sanity at the time of the offense has pushed that back.
Norwood underwent a similar evaluation in August 2020, and it was established that he was competent at that time. In the motion on Friday, Ruzic stated that the August evaluation also noted that Norwood “has significant mental health problems, and that when confronted with intense or emotionally activating information or decisions, it may be expected that his abilities will deteriorate significantly.”
The motion also states: “On Feb. 16, this court and counsel received notification that Mr. Norwood was removed from the Fauquier Adult Detention Center through a temporary detention order and was subsequently committed to the Western State Hospital. … After receiving treatment there, Mr. Norwood has been returned to the Fauquier Adult Detention Center.”
The Western State Hospital is a state psychiatric facility that treats people with “serious mental or substance abuse disorders,” according to its website.
Ruzic stated he has met with Norwood twice since his return, according to the motion, and has noted that “there is a noticeable withdrawal from the defendant in his participation with defense counsel.”
Norwood is accused of killing his mother, Jennifer Norwood, 34, and his 6-year-old brother, Wyatt, in their Midland home on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 2020. He was indicted as an adult in July 2020 on two counts of first-degree murder, three counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony and one count of grand theft of an automobile.
Norwood, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, was being held at the Loudoun County Juvenile Detention Center but was transferred to the Fauquier County Adult Detention Facility when he turned 18 on Jan. 11.
Judge orders competency evaluation for Fauquier teen accused in deaths of his mom, brother
3/6/2021
Fauquier County Circuit Court Judge Jeanette Irby granted a second “not guilty by reason of insanity” evaluation Friday for a Fauquier County teen accused of fatally shooting his mother and younger brother on Valentine's Day 2020.
The request was granted over the commonwealth’s objection, according to deputy public defender Ryan Ruzic, who is representing Levi Norwood, 18. Another competency to stand trial evaluation was also ordered. The evaluations must be completed within 60 days. The court will review the findings in May.
The Friday, March 5, hearing was originally scheduled to set a trial date in the case, but Ruzic’s successful motion to assess Norwood's competency and sanity at the time of the offense has pushed that back.
Norwood underwent a similar evaluation in August 2020, and it was established that he was competent at that time. In the motion on Friday, Ruzic stated that the August evaluation also noted that Norwood “has significant mental health problems, and that when confronted with intense or emotionally activating information or decisions, it may be expected that his abilities will deteriorate significantly.”
The motion also states: “On Feb. 16, this court and counsel received notification that Mr. Norwood was removed from the Fauquier Adult Detention Center through a temporary detention order and was subsequently committed to the Western State Hospital. … After receiving treatment there, Mr. Norwood has been returned to the Fauquier Adult Detention Center.”
The Western State Hospital is a state psychiatric facility that treats people with “serious mental or substance abuse disorders,” according to its website.
Ruzic stated he has met with Norwood twice since his return, according to the motion, and has noted that “there is a noticeable withdrawal from the defendant in his participation with defense counsel.”
Norwood is accused of killing his mother, Jennifer Norwood, 34, and his 6-year-old brother, Wyatt, in their Midland home on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 2020. He was indicted as an adult in July 2020 on two counts of first-degree murder, three counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony and one count of grand theft of an automobile.
Norwood, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, was being held at the Loudoun County Juvenile Detention Center but was transferred to the Fauquier County Adult Detention Facility when he turned 18 on Jan. 11.
Judge orders competency evaluation for Fauquier teen accused in deaths of his mom, brother
