Booking photo for Shawn Andrews (Courtesy: Cache County Jail).
LOGAN — Attorneys are asking a judge to order a 28-year-old man, suspected of stabbing and killing his mother, be evaluated to see if he is competent to stand trial. Shawn R. Andrews is being held in the Cache County Jail since being arrested November 23.
Andrews appeared in 1st District Court Monday afternoon. He has been charged with murder, a first-degree felony; and three counts of obstruction of justice, a third-degree felony.
Public defender Bryan Galloway, who recently was appointed to the case, told the court that he felt like Andrews needed to have several mental evaluations done. One will be a competency test, to determine if the suspect can understand the trial process and be able to defend himself.
Cache County Deputy Attorney Griffin Hazard said he didn’t have any concern with Andrews being evaluated.
Judge Angela Fonnesbeck said she would grant the evaluation request but asked for Galloway to turn in a written motion because of the serious nature of the charges.
According to a probable cause affidavit, police officers found Debra Andrews lying on the floor, just inside the front door of her North Logan apartment, on the afternoon of November 23. A cellphone and set of dentures were near her head. An empty bottle of alcohol was on a coffee table nearby.
Several neighbors reported seeing a man matching Shawn Andrews’ description running from the apartment complex at the time the alleged murder occurred. He was carrying a black backpack and had something wrapped around his arm.
Police later arrested Shawn Andrews and located a black discarded backpack that had blood and a knife inside.
Shawn Andrews originally told officers he left the apartment early Saturday morning and was looking for his brother. He later changed his story several times before admitting to killing his mother and discarding the backpack. He also gave several different explanations for why he committed the crime.
Andrews remains in jail, being held without bail. He could face up to life in prison if convicted.
will@cvradio.com