A Bucks County triple murder suspect has been committed to a state psychiatric hospital for evaluation and treatment, placing legal proceedings in his death penalty case on temporary hold.
Bucks County Common Pleas Court Judge Raymond McHugh granted a defense petition on July 10 placing Andre Gordon Jr. in either Norristown State Hospital in Montgomery County or Torrance State Hospital in Allegheny County. The court order is in accordance with the Mental Health Procedures Act and is in effect for up to 60 days.
Norristown State and Torrance State are the only two forensic psychiatric hospitals in Pennsylvania that accept criminal defendants.
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The order was issued two days before Gordon was scheduled to be formally arraigned in Bucks County Court. Charges include three counts of first-degree murder and attempted murder in an alleged violent rampage earlier this year that put most of Falls and parts of Levittown in lockdown for hours.
Judge Jeffrey Finley granted a petition for a mental competency examination for Gordon on April 12.
What does PA law say about mental competency?
Whenever a person charged with a crime is found to be substantially unable to understand the nature or object of the proceedings against him or her, or to participate and assist in his or her defense, the court can find the person incompetent, under state law.
Court proceedings are halted indefinitely until a defendant, if ever, is deemed mentally competent.
According to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry the standards for assessing decision-making capacity are ability to evidence a choice, ability to understand relevant information, ability to appreciate the situation and consequences and ability to process information rationally.
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Where is Andre Gordon Jr. now?
As of July 15, Gordon remains incarcerated without bail in the Bucks County Corrections Center in Doylestown, according to VineLink.
He has been housed at the jail in its mental health, according to criminal documents filed related to additional charges against him while incarcerated. Those new charges including eight felonies for aggravated assault and disarming a law enforcement officer filed last month.
It is unknown when Gordon will be transferred to the state psychiatric facility, but he can only be moved when a bed is available. The 60-day time clock starts when Gordon is admitted.
In June, Bucks County had 19 defendants at Norristown State Hospital, according to the county department of corrections, and two female inmates on the waiting list.
The jail also had 86 inmates in June diagnosed with serious, persistent mental illness, according to the corrections department.
What crimes is Andre Gordon Jr. accused of?
Andre Gordon, 26, allegedly went on a violent crime spree March 16 killing his stepmother, Karen Gordon, 52, his half-sister Kera Gordon, 13, and Taylor Daniel, 25, the mother of his two children. He is also accused of the attempted murder of his father, Andre Sr.
He is also charged with carjacking a man at gunpoint in Morrisville and other crimes in New Jersey including an armed carjacking there.
Prosecutors have said they are seeking the death penalty for Gordon if convicted.
Reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@gannett.com
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