Robert Dear found not competent to stand trial

A judge found Robert Dear, the admitted killer in the Planned Parenthood shooting, not competent to stand trial again after his competency hearing Tuesday.

This was the first hearing since an appellate court ruled in January doctors can administer Dear with anti-psychotic medication.

Penrose Hospital emergency physician Natalie Ayres explains anti-psychotic medications are used to help stabilize mental health patients.

“This is for people that have underlying diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder,” said Ayres. “Even people who have rapid mood swings or behavior swings,”

If Dear is administered the anti-psychotic medication, the hope is it will keep him sane enough to understand what’s going on around him in order to stand trial.

“These medications try and help keep their chemical component in their brain normal so they can function within society,” Ayres said.

Dear has previously admitted to his psychologists that he did not want to be declared incompetent because it would mean “forced medication.”

It’s unclear whether or not Dear has taken any anti-psychotic medication. That information is kept private under HIPAA law.

There will be another review hearing May 21 at 9 a.m.