Mental treatment sought for woman charged with killing Montour County man after using his bathroom
DANVILLE – Involuntary mental treatment is being sought for a Florida woman accused of slitting the throat of an elderly Montour County man after she used his bathroom.
The competency issue delayed Thursday’s preliminary hearing for Kathleen Susan Reed, 37, of Pembroke Pines, who is charged with homicide, theft and possession of an instrument of crime.
Reed is accused of killing W. John Ditzler, 83, on July 21 in his Bloom Road home, five miles east of Danville.
A court-ordered mental evaluation determined Reed would be unable to participate and assist in her own defense, her attorney Michael P. Dennehey stated in a court filing.
However, Dr. Richard E. Fischbein, a psychiatrist, believes her capacity or competency to stand trial could be restored with medications, therapy and placement in a state mental health forensic unit, Dennehey pointed out.
District Attorney Angela Mattis had revealed following Reed’s arrest that she had