A Fort Dodge man accused of murdering his sister and her baby at an Ames apartment will undergo a psych evaluation after exhibiting signs of a “serious mental disorder.”
Davontrez R. McCuddin, 22, is accused of fatally stabbing Markasia M. McCuddin, 26, and her son Liam Sanders-McCuddin on March 13. The pair was found by Ames Police with multiple stab wounds and was pronounced dead on the scene.
New details from a court document say police initially found Markasia McCuddin’s body before spotting Davontrez McCuddin naked in a stairway inside the apartment building, “covered in blood,” holding a cell phone and “only wearing socks.” He “retreated” from the officers up the stairs, where they came upon the deceased baby. Officers eventually followed McCuddin into an apartment and tased him. They arrested and charged the 22-year-old with two counts of first-degree murder.
Court documents identified Davontrez McCuddin as Markasia McCuddin’s brother.
Witnesses said Davontrez McCuddin allegedly stabbed his sister “numerous times” shortly before officers arrived on scene, according to court records.
He was previously wanted for attempted murder in a Fort Dodge shooting in January.
A competency hearing for the first-degree murder charges was held on Thursday, April 2.
Defense attorney Charles Kenville said during the hearing that when he visited Davontrez McCuddin in jail, Davontrez McCuddin exhibited behaviors that raised questions about his “competency.”
Davontrez McCuddin was also seen by an Ames forensic scientist, who said he showed “labile emotions, disorganized thoughts, and was in a psychotic state,” according to court records.
District Court Judge John Flynn ordered Davontrez McCuddin to undergo a psychiatric competency evaluation. The Iowa Medical Classification Center will conduct the evaluation on an outpatient or telehealth basis.
Davontrez McCuddin allegedly displayed signs of mental disorder
Davontrez McCuddin’s attorney met with him on multiple occasions since his arrest in Ames, according to court records. The attorney said Davontrez McCuddin “exhibited signs of a serious mental disorder which would prevent him from appreciating the charge, understanding the proceedings, or assisting effectively in his own defense.”
Davontrez McCuddin allegedly showed “unregulated emotions” or made statements indicating “active auditory and visual hallucinations.” He allegedly “made statements related to having multiple ‘souls,’ of detailed conspiracies to harm him and to “supernatural observations and abilities.”
A psychologist told Davontrez McCuddin’s counsel that he had “labile emotions, disorganized thoughts, and was in a psychotic state,” according to court records.
The psychologist saw Davontrez McCuddin for about an hour to “get a baseline,” Kenville said during the hearing, before he was voluntarily medicated at the jail.
Neighbors reported ‘active stabbing’ in Ames apartment building
Ames Police said they fielded several calls for an “active stabbing” in an “access” hallway at the Windsor Pointe Apartments on March 13, according to court records.
Davontrez McCuddin was allegedly armed with a knife and yelling “you’re dead” at his sister, according to a criminal complaint. Police officers found the woman “suffering from numerous stab wounds” to the head and neck.
Officers found the woman’s one-year-old on the second floor of the apartment hallway, also suffering from multiple stab wounds.
Officers allegedly followed a trail of blood to the third floor of the apartment building, where they found Davontrez McCuddin. Court documents note that he was allegedly covered in blood with a deep cut on his hand.
Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Iowa man who allegedly killed Ames woman, baby will undergo psych eval
Reporting by Celia Brocker, Ames Tribune / Ames Tribune
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