Man accused of killing father with axe found incompetent for trial, will undergo treatment

A 25-year-old man who was released from a hospital psychiatric unit three days before prosecutors say he killed his father with an axe has been found incompetent to stand trial.

Joseph Rudd, who has been held at the Hamilton County Justice Center since his arrest in August, will undergo treatment in an attempt to restore his mental competency, Common Pleas Judge Patrick Dinkelacker said at a hearing Thursday.

Another hearing is set for March 2025. Under Ohio law, defendants are deemed incompetent if they can't understand the nature of the charges or assist in their own defense. But that finding can change through treatment.

Dinkelacker said Rudd will be transferred to a psychiatric hospital in Roselawn, Summit Behavioral Healthcare, once a bed becomes available.

Mental health issues

Rudd's mental health has been at the center of the case. His sister has previously told The Enquirer that he had been dealing with mental health issues for several years and that his mental condition declined in 2023. In Facebook posts from 2023, Rudd described being treated for schizophrenia with antipsychotic medications. He also posted about wanting to be "off these drugs."

According to his sister, Rudd lived with his father, Troy, in the small house in North Fairmount where he was raised because his mental health issues meant he couldn't live on his own.

There were several incidents in recent months that indicated Rudd was struggling mentally. On July 1, according to court documents, he attacked two employees of a UC Health facility. The documents say Rudd spit into an employee's mouth and bit another employee's hand and spit in his face.

Then three days later, Rudd was charged in another assault.

In mid-August, two weeks before being arrested in the killing of his father, Rudd was accused of damaging cars in Green Township. At one point, according to court documents, Rudd punched a car's windshield then ran into a building, "chanting."

Rudd was arrested and jailed in connection with that incident. His father posted bond on Aug. 17, and he was released with an ankle monitor that could track his location.

Hospital released Rudd, despite family's objections

On Aug. 22, Rudd was admitted to Christ Hospital's psychiatric unit, according to his sister, but was released the next day − despite his family, mental health caseworker and attorney all asking that he remain in the hospital.

The killing happened Aug. 26, three days after his release. Police found him the same day in South Cumminsville in an area near train tracks.

At the county jail, Rudd spit on a deputy, according to court documents.

Rudd is charged with murder in the killing of his father, as well as harassment with a bodily substance, a felony, in the incident at the jail.

One of his attorneys, John Kennedy, did not respond to a request for comment.

This story was updated to add a video.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Man accused of killing father with axe found incompetent for trial, will undergo treatment