Suspect in Arson, Murder Deemed Competent to Stand Trial
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A suspect accused of burning his sister to death last year has been deemed competent to stand trial.
49-year-old Steven Richards is suspected of pouring a flammable liquid on his sister Nadine and lighting her on fire with a match.
He also is accused of setting his family´s house on fire. It happened in January of 2003 in the Twain Harte area.
Reports say Richards is quote “fundamentally schizophrenic” and only has borderline intellectual functioning, yet he´s still deemed fit for trial.
The reports also say Richards is a suicide risk and needs to be housed at a facility where his medication and behavior can be closely monitored.
Richards was in Tuolumne County Superior Court on Thursday..
