Mental evaluation to decide if man charged in ‘brutal’ Alabama murder can stand trial

HOUSTON COUNTY, Ala (WDHN) —  A mental evaluation and youthful offender status hearing has been ordered for a homeless man accused of beating an elderly Houston County man to death in his front yard late last year.

Justin Ryan Ammons is charged with one count of capital murder-robbery in the death of 70-year-old Durwood Ard.

Ammons’ attorneys requested their client undergo a mental evaluation and IQ test early Tuesday morning. Judge Todd Derrick granted the request nearly an hour later.

The assessment will be performed by a psychologist or psychiatrist contracted or employed by the Alabama Department of Mental Health. This test will determine if Ammons is competent and fit to stand trial.

Ard was found beaten to death outside his home in the 11000 block of Highway 84 on Tuesday, December 12.

According to Sheriff Donald Valenza, Ard suffered “extreme” skull fractures and structural damage to the skull.

Ammon’s grand jury indictment, filed in early June, claims Ammons beat Ard to death with a metal pipe while trying to rob him.

At the time of Ammons’ arrest, Sheriff Valenza said that Ard’s death was one of the “most brutal murders” he had ever seen.

Along with undergoing a mental evaluation, Ammons will stand before Judge Derrick in early August for a youthful offender hearing to determine whether he should stay charged as an adult or be moved to juvenile court, which would seal his case from the public.

Ammons was 20 at the time of the murder.

Houston County District Attorney Russ Goodman says that anyone under 21 can apply for youthful offender status, but his office plans to fight to motion.

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