EVERETT — Todd Brodahl’s attorney plans to contest recent findings by state psychologists who say the former Marysville man is well enough to assist with his own defense some dozen years after being charged with killing Brady Sheary.
Brodahl, 32, is living with schizoaffective disorder, according to court papers. He’s been confined to Western State Hospital since 2003 after multiple attempts to bring him to trial failed.
Brodahl is accused of beating and stabbing Sheary, 18. The teen’s body was discovered April 23, 2002 in a parking lot at Cedarcrest Middle School. Detectives suspect the killing was motivated by jealousy over a girl.
Doctors have concluded on multiple occasions that Brodahl was too mentally ill to understand the charges against him. They’ve also said he did not have the capacity to assist his defense attorneys.
Prosecutors were forced twice to drop murder charges against him. Recently they were notified that Brodahl no longer meets the legal criteria for civil commitment at Western State Hospital and plans were under way to release him to a group home. He’s visited two potential placements in Everett in December, according to court papers.
Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Chris Dickinson refiled the second-degree murder charge against Brodahl last month. A new mental health evaluation was done a couple of weeks ago at the Snohomish County Jail.
For the first time since being charged, state doctors concluded that Brodahl is competent to stand trial.
Veteran defense attorney Natalie Tarantino is expected to dispute those findings at a hearing later this month. It will be up to a judge to determine if the case against Brodahl goes forward or if he’ll be sent to Western State Hospital again for restoration treatment.
In the recent mental health evaluation the psychologists noted that Brodahl was deemed “functionally mute,” in previous reviews. However, during the past two years, with consistent medication and treatment, his symptoms have improved. He regularly attended ward activities, played games with other patients, maintained a job in the hospital and has been considered a “model” patient among his peers. He’s worked up to unsupervised privileges on the hospital grounds, court papers said.
A social worker recently noted that Brodahl is coping well with the uncertainty of the legal hurdles he may face. He asked whether his time spent at Western State Hospital would count toward any prison sentence if he was convicted of murder, court papers said.
The state doctors wrote that Brodahl demonstrated a fair and factual understanding of legal terms, personnel and proceedings. He showed that he can apply relevant information. He was able to understand that while he may receive credit for time served in jail that wouldn’t apply to the time he was a patient at the hospital, court papers said.
The doctors suggested the Brodahl may need additional medication to deal with the stress of a court hearings, and he would benefit from additional breaks so he can ask questions of his attorney.
The psychologists reiterated that Brodahl likely doesn’t meet the criteria for civil commitment but recommended an additional evaluation if he’s considered for release.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dianahefley.
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