Defendant in murder again ruled incompetent

9/27/2006

FREMONT - A Fremont woman accused of fatally stabbing her father and injuring two girls during an argument over whether to watch a movie or a football game on TV is still not competent to stand trial, a judge ruled yesterday.

Lona Rios, 45, who has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, is charged with one count of murder and two counts each of attempted murder and felonious assault.

Judge Harry Sargeant, Jr., did not set a new hearing date in Sandusky County Common Pleas Court but ordered her to remain with Northcoast Behavior Healthcare System.

He said her latest evaluation indicated she was not competent to stand trial for the Jan. 14 incident. He reached the same conclusion after a similar hearing in May.

Police said a disagreement over what to watch on television led Ms. Rios to grab a kitchen knife and attack her father, Hilario Rios, 69, in their near-downtown home.

Authorities allege that after killing her father, Ms. Rios turned the knife on her 9-year-old niece and her niece's 8-year-old friend. Both received stitches for their wounds.

Prosecutor Tom Stierwalt said the state has until May 7 to try Ms. Rios.