Updated at 8:58 p.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – A judge ordered a mental evaluation for the 25-year-old Centralia man accused of torture and rape in the death of his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter.
James M. Reeder
James M. Reeder will have to be evaluated by psychiatrists from Western State Hospital before further court proceedings can take place.
Reeder is charged with homicide by abuse and related charges, including possession of methamphetamine, following the May 24 death in Centralia of Koralynn Fister.
Reeder’s attorney last week requested the arraignment be postponed based on his interactions with his client in the courtroom when Reeder appeared before a judge.
This morning David Arcuri told Lewis County Superior Court Judge James Lawler he needed to have Reeder evaluated to review his competency.
The process is undertaken to find out if defendants are competent to stand trial and able to assist their lawyer in their defense.
Arcuri said his client will be transported to the state mental hospital for the review, instead of state psychiatrists traveling to Lewis County to conduct it in the jail as is sometimes done.
Reeder had moved in with the toddler’s mother about 10 weeks before the toddler died. Police and aid were called to their north Centralia neighborhood when he carried her to a house across the street, saying he stepped out from her bath briefly and returned to find her face down in the tub. Authorities said they found numerous injuries, including signs of rape.
Homicide by abuse is a class A felony, with a maximum penalty of life in prison.
A brief court hearing is scheduled for July 5 to review the status of the evaluation.
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For background, read “Father of Centralia toddler who died speaks out” from Saturday June 2, 2012, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
This is the move of every coward confronted by our weak justice system, and the fact they are even giving this idea a hearing shows what an incompetent, merciless bunch of lawless lawyerts we have systematically developed over the last 40 years in our country. This sick scumbag should suffer and pay for what he has done – first for Koralynn’s sake and second to deter others who would even consider these actions to think again. A travesty…and I pray that “Disgusted” is right, but these days, one can’t be too sure.
Just lame reasons to Get out of it easier. He knows what he did. His Lawyer Is just stalling. it will catch up and reeder will pay for his actions. Sickening.. nite all nap time
The monsters that did and allowed this will rot In bell forever
I once heard a quote that read “Why test on animals when we have prisoners” Something to think about!
As I said before, an insanity defense is almost impossible to prove in this state. He would have to be completely incapable of knowing what he was doing at the time he committed the crime. Since he obviously had the wherewithal to take the baby to the neighbors so he could put on a show trying to perform CPR, and was functional enough to make up the story about her falling in the bathtub and hitting her head, he was with it enough to make up stories. That alone, can show that he knew what he was doing was WRONG. Therefore, he is not insane. Sick, disgusting, perverted, less than human – sure. But not insane. I am sure they have to do a mental evaluation because the crime is so heinous that most of us can’t begin to fathom how anyone could do what was done to that child. They are going to rule out insanity and believe me, after trial and conviction, this piece of shit is going to jail with the big boys when this is all said and done. Then, if they ever let him out of PC, well . . . I just wish I could be a fly on the wall to see what happens to the sick son-of-a-bitch. They should tear him limb from limb.
And my first reaction is that he should be executed however, I prefer that he suffer for an extended period of time. Death is too merciful a fate for this guy. Just cut him loose in prison and let the inmates take care of him.
I believe we could so easily solve the over population of prisons by, simple putting ppl like this… “to sleep”. But he deserves to feel the same thing this sweet little girl did. Shame on him! He totally turns my stomach….
Really????? This is ridiculous!!!!!!!!! Why are they even giving him the go around. Sentence him already so he can start getting paid the same way he tortured this poor little angel. He has no heart.
Just take him out back and shoot him. Sicko doesnt deserve anything but death!
I seriously cannot believe this. Not competent enough for trial but enough to know to call for help and then go to the neighbors ask for help and do cpr till it arrives so that he looks innocent. sounds like he’s plenty competent enough to me and needs to take what is coming to him. I understand that by law he gets an atorney and the lawyer is supposed to try his best but seriously sounds like he knew what he was doing to me and should stand his trial and be sentenced and take his lashings like a real man he didnt give that little girl any choice he shouldnt have a choice what makes him think he should have more than she did? He should suffer the same way and more and feel the same pain and it still wouldnt be enough.
People who post about the former softball coach having a hard time in prison, are probably not correct.
This, is the guy that’s gonna be in for the TOUGH time in prison.
Oh, so they are going to use the “he’s not right in the head” defense now? Grasping at yet more straws here, are we?