Mental health evaluation ordered for man accused in Colorado Springs stabbing spree

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The man who called himself Jesus Christ and allegedly went on a stabbing spree through downtown Colorado Springs last month will have to undergo a mental health evaluation before any court proceedings move forward.

Rene Miller, 38, faces six charges of attempted murder for the alleged spree. Police say it started near 8th Street and Cimarron around 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 13 and then Miller wound his way through to N. Tejon Street, leaving a trail of victims in his path.

The mother of one victim was in the courtroom on Friday. She told KRDO crews the attack has permanently traumatized her son.

"He doesn’t let people get relatively close to him. He’s just not in a good place. It has changed him. He’s not the same," said Lori Schlageck about her son, Jason. "

Schlageck says Jason was sleeping in the America the Beautiful park, when Miller got in his face and said, "do you believe in Christ? Because I'm God."

Jason told his mom he answered "yes," but Miller still stabbed him four times.

An officer spoke to a couple who said Miller walked up to them on the Midland trail, asked if they were Christian, and pulled out a knife. The couple said the man demanded them to answer "yes" or "no," but eventually walked off.

Another couple reported a similar encounter: one of them answered "yes," and said Miller licked his finger and wiped a cross on his forehead. The man said his fiancé answered "no," and Miller responded, "I have to kill her."

Investigators say Miller stabbed both, the man and the woman, on the walking path, cutting the man's ear and the woman's cheek.

An additional man said he was walking past the New Life Commons on E Boulder Street when Miller stabbed him seven times.

That victim told detectives Miller said, "I am Jesus Christ," and asked if he had accepted him as his Lord and savior. The man reported telling Miller he was undecided, but then he was stabbed. The man said his friend told Miller he did accept him, and Miller said thank you.

Investigators say the final attacks happened outside Tony's bar on N Tejon Street, where Miller stabbed at least three more people. They say the victims held Miller down until police got there.

A preliminary hearing for Miller has been rescheduled for April 2. He's being held in custody without bail.