Murder suspect committed
SANDPOINT — A Coeur d'Alene woman accused of first-degree murder was committed Friday to a state hospital while awaiting trial.
After reviewing a mental health evaluation of Judith Marie Carpenter, 1st District Judge Barbara Buchanan ruled that Carpenter lacked the fitness to proceed in the first-degree murder case and the capacity to make informed decisions about her mental health treatment, according to the commitment order. Buchanan further ruled that Carpenter was "dangerously mentally ill."
Idaho law defines persons as dangerously mentally ill as someone who is in need of supervision and treatment. Such persons also present a substantial risk of physical harm to themselves and others, and to be dangerous to such a degree that a maximum-security treatment setting is required.
Mental health evaluations in Idaho criminal cases are filed under seal, which means only defendants, attorneys and judges are privy to their contents. The evaluations cannot be viewed by the public.
Carpenter's defense counsel, Coeur d'Alene attorney Joseph Sullivan moved for his client's commitment to a Idaho Department of Health & Welfare hospital following mediation that could bring resolution to the criminal case. A psychologist/neuropsychologist met with Carpenter at some point during the mediation and determined that Carpenter lacked the capacity to assist in her own defense due to an unspecified mental disorder.
The prosecution concurred with the defense request after reviewing the doctor's evaluation, court records show.
Carpenter, 59, is accused of shooting Shirley Ann Ramey to death at Ramey's Trestle Creek home on April 5, 2017. The criminal complaint further alleges that Carpenter may have killed Ramey during the attempted commission of a burglary and/or a robbery.
Carpenter was tied to the killing after she was apprehended in Montana during a road rage incident in which a Glock semiautomatic pistol and a lever-action rifle were seized as evidence. The Glock was matched forensically to Ramey's killing and the rifle was determined to have been stolen from the Ramey residence, according to court documents.
Carpenter denied involvement in Ramey's death and pleaded not guilty. She remains held at the Bonner County Jail in lieu of $1 million bail.
Buchanan's order commits Carpenter to a state hospital for up to 90 days for up to 90 days, during which a progress report is prepared and an opinion is rendered as to whether Carpenter is fit to proceed. The order suspends criminal proceedings while the commitment order is in place.
Keith Kinnaird can be reached at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com or followed on Twitter @KeithDaily Bee