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Report: Thorpe Still Incompetent to Stand Trial
WEDNESDAY December 12, 2001

Report: Thorpe Still Incompetent to Stand Trial
By Doug Mattson
Alleged triple murderer Scott Thorpe is still suffering from delusions and paranoia and needs more treatment, according to a Napa State Hospital psychiatric report.
Criminal proceedings against Thorpe will remain on hold for at least another six months until the next report is issued.
A staff psychiatrist issued the report Nov. 15, and the District Attorney's Office received it Nov. 26. DA Mike Ferguson and Chief Public Defender Thomas Anderson agreed to draft a summary of the confidential report Tuesday at The Union's request.
It said: "A report from ... the staff psychiatrist concludes Mr. Thorpe continues to be delusional, suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and this continues to interfere with his ability to assist counsel in the conduct of his defense in a rational manner."
Thorpe, 41, of Smartville, is accused of killing three people and wounding two in back-to-back shootings Jan. 10 at the county Department of Behavioral Health Services, where he was a client, and at Lyon's restaurant, which he allegedly believed people had poisoned him.
A sixth person was seriously injured jumping from a second-floor window at Behavioral Health to escape gunfire.
Found incompetent to aid his own defense, Thorpe was admitted to the state hospital system in early May. He first went to Atascadero State Hospital, a maximum-security facility where his risk level for escape was assessed.
He was later transferred to Napa State Hospital, a low- to moderate-risk facility surrounded by fencing topped with razor wire.
A Nevada County grand jury later issued murder indictments against Thorpe.
Thorpe's mother, Marilyn Thorpe of Omaha, Neb., said in an interview last week that she's visited her son at Napa twice, in October and November, but couldn't gauge his mental state.
"It's hard to tell. Of course, he's on quite a bit of medication," she said.
"I think he enters on a few activities," she added. "He doesn't say too much, and we don't quiz him too much."
Thorpe's psychiatric report came roughly six months after his admission to the hospital system. Another six-month report is due in May.
Hospital nursing coordinator Ray Reaka said Tuesday that 99 percent of clients in the hospital's competency program regain competency in nine to 12 months. Those who don't are held indefinitely.
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