Competency exam ordered for Chesapeake teen charged with killing parents
CHESAPEAKE — A judge on Tuesday ordered that a 15-year-old boy charged with killing his adoptive parents earlier this year be evaluated by a psychologist to determine whether he’s competent to stand trial.
Defense attorney Andrew James told Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Judge David Whitted he wants the teen evaluated because of young age, the nature of the offense he’s accused of and questions about his ability to assist in his defense. Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Peterson didn’t oppose the request.
In order to be found competent to stand trial, a defendant must be able to understand the proceedings they face and assist their attorney in their defense. Those determined to be incompetent are typically ordered to receive whatever treatment or education deemed necessary to restore them to competency.
The boy’s parents were killed Jan. 10 at the family’s trailer home in the Portlock area of Chesapeake, according to police. He was arrested that day and charged with two counts of aggravated murder. He’s been held in juvenile detention since his arrest.
The boy attended Tuesday’s hearing wearing a green polo shirt and dark pants, with his hands cuffed in front of him and leg irons attached to his ankles. He didn’t speak during the brief court hearing.
The Virginian-Pilot is not naming him because he’s currently being prosecuted as a juvenile. In Virginia, teens between the ages of 14 and 16 who are charged with certain violent offenses can be ordered by a judge to stand trial as an adult. If they’re 16 to 18 and accused of those same offenses, the law requires they be tried as an adult.
Police said they were called to the family’s double-wide trailer in the Homecrest Manufactured Home Community and found the boy’s parents dead from knife and possibly hammer injuries. Both weapons were found at the scene.
The parents were identified as Donna Daugherty, 61, and John Daugherty, 60. Online obituaries for the couple said they met in 1988 and had three children together, as well as three sons from John Daugherty’s previous marriages.
Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com
