The county woman accused of shooting and killing her
19-month-old daughter in November 2008 has been found competent to
stand trial after spending nearly a year at a state mental
hospital.
The county woman accused of shooting and killing her 19-month-old daughter in November 2008 has been found competent to stand trial after spending nearly a year at a state mental hospital.
A judge presided over three separate homicide cases at the San Benito County Courthouse on Thursday, including the homicide case involving suspected child killer Cheryl Busch, 41, who has been staying at Patton State Mental Hospital while involved in a program in which doctors attempt to get her to a level of competency, or having an understanding of the trial proceedings. Judge Steven Sanders on Thursday continued a trial setting hearing for Busch.
One of the other three defendants in court Thursday was Samuel E. Turner, suspected of killing 31-year-old Elizabeth Esther Gomez in 2007. He is scheduled for a trial to start Jan. 10, according to court records.
The third homicide suspect in court was Travis J. Hoffmeister, accused of killing Christella Macias in June 2007 and leaving her body on C Street with a bag over her head. Hoffmeister, 25, of Hollister, also had his trial setting continued Thursday – to 9 a.m. Dec. 30 in courtroom 101 before Sanders. Hoffmeister and Turner are represented by public defender Harry Damkar.
Perhaps the most significant development among the three homicide cases was with Busch. Authorities that November morning found her 19-month-old daughter in a crib on the property at 2370 Shore Road, along with a .357 Magnum outside the house used in the shooting.
A judge in January followed a doctor’s recommendation to send Busch to a state mental hospital, where she was to stay indefinitely until doctors said she was competent to stand trial and fully understands the proceedings. At another recent review hearing in October, Busch still had been deemed incompetent for trial, according to records.
The hospital in the past two weeks, though, found her competent to stand trial, while her attorney, public defender Gregory La Forge, is awaiting a report from his independent expert. Those doctors’ reports were designated as confidential in court files and were unavailable for viewing, according to the courts.
“If the expert agrees (with the hospital), then we will submit on the report and the criminal proceedings will go forward,” La Forge said, regarding the pre-trial process.
Sanders continued her scheduled review hearing to Jan. 6 at 9 a.m. in courtroom 101.
Turner, meanwhile, is scheduled for a trial confirmation Dec. 30 and a jury trial starting at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 10 in courtroom 201. Turner, age 25 at the time and a San Jose resident, is suspected of first-degree murder in connection with the strangulation and stabbing of Gomez in March 2007. Police responding to a call from the residence found Turner inside along with the body.
Hoffmeister is the local man accused of killing Macias in June 2007 and leaving her body on C Street with a bag over her head and only a shirt on her body.
Busch and Hoffmeister have pleaded not guilty. Turner has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
