OCONTO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – David Steinmetz is mentally competent to stand trial for allegedly killing his mother and her husband, a judge ruled Friday. Steinmetz then pleaded not guilty to the murders.
Steinmetz, 28, is charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon in connection with the deaths of Lori Steinmetz, 55, and Paul Brennan, 75.
Steinmetz’s attorney had raised a competency concern, which relates to the suspect’s ability to understand the court proceeding and assist in his own defense. After a psychiatric report, the defense agreed Steinmetz is competent to stand trial, which Judge Jay Conley then approved.
Steinmetz also waived his preliminary hearing before entering the not guilty pleas. No trial date was set. He returns to court June 7 for a pre-trial conference.
According to the criminal complaint, the episode began when Steinmetz had vehicle problems in the southern part of the state. His mom and Brennan rented a vehicle and went to get him. After returning the vehicle, they eventually went back to the Little Suamico residence.
Steinmetz, who told police he had been using meth on a daily basis, stated that “he was up for like a five day stretch.”
“David stated he ended up coming back to the house. David stated that a voice kept telling him that he had to take a life. David stated the voice told him that he needed to take a life or his life would be taken. David also stated he had feelings that if he didn’t take his mom’s life someone is going to take out more of his family. David stated it was like take out one life to save fifteen other lives,” the complaint states.
“David stated he just sat there and was thinking and thinking. David stated the thoughts kept coming back to him and stated he had to take someone out in his family or the rest of his family would be taken out. David stated he just panicked and didn’t know what to do. David stated he thought he was at the very end. David stated he got out of his car and he just opened up fire on both his mom and (Brennan),” the complaint says. “David stated he didn’t know what he was doing and that he wasn’t in his normal state of mind and that he wasn’t thinking clearly.”
Neither did anything to provoke Steinmetz, he said.
The two victims each suffered multiple gunshot wounds, the complaint states.
Police had been to the home previously, with an investigator describing Steinmetz’s relationship with Brennan as “contemptuous,” and Steinmetz had threatened his mother’s life in the past, according to the complaint.
