Man found guilty in fatal shooting to stay under court supervision
Published 7:02 am Saturday, February 16, 2013
A man found not guilty by reason of insanity in the 2005 shooting death of his 89-year-old grandmother will stay under court supervision for at least another year.
In 2007, state court Judge Robert Wyatt found Kevin B. Patrick, 41, not guilty of second-degree murder by reason of insanity. Prosecutor John Coffman and defense attorney Ron Ware both agreed Patrick was likely insane when he killed Macie Lovette. Wyatt put Patrick on conditional probation and ordered him to live with his mother and stepfather in Many, where he was to be under the watch of social workers and psychiatrists.
Lovette was found shot in bed in her Fourth Street home in April 2005. At the time, neighbors said Patrick was his grandmother’s primary caregiver. They described him as stressed and tired.
Psychiatrist Dr. James Anderson testified in 2007 that Patrick was psychotic and out of touch. He said Patrick felt God was telling him to do it.
On Friday, prosecutor Stephanie Cochran and defense attorney Jay Dixon made a joint recommendation that Patrick continue under court supervision. He will be re-examined next year.
Cochran and Dixon, as well as psychiatrists Drs. Charles Vosburg and Stephen Benton, all agreed that Patrick had followed court orders and maintained his medication.
“He’s done extremely well; he’s been very compliant,” Vosburg said. “There have been no problems, no blips whatsoever.”
He said there was a recent verbal argument between Patrick and his stepfather after which Patrick went to stay with an aunt for a week. Vosburg attributed that to tension from three grown adults living under the same roof and said Patrick will still live at his family’s home but will live in a separate building.
Cochran said the argument was the “first bump in the road” since Patrick was put on conditional probation in 2007.
Wyatt said that the time is coming when Patrick will no longer be under state care and will be able to live on his own.
“What I’ve heard makes me comfortable in that it’s a transition, and that’s not always provided,” Wyatt said.
Wyatt admonished Patrick to “take care of your business; keep taking your medication. We’re giving you an opportunity to be a little more independent.”
(American Press Archives)
