Belleville woman charged in murder is found ‘unfit to stand trial’
.jpg "A Belleville woman charged with murder will receive treatment from the Illinois Department of Human Services, a judge ruled Thursday.")
A psychologist has found a Belleville woman is currently not mentally fit to stand trial on allegations she fatally stabbed an East St. Louis man last week, according to a court order Thursday.
Michelle A. Schultz, 38, was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of 67-year-old Van T. Perry of East St. Louis on Sept. 26.
Schultz, of the 1800 block of West Main Street in Belleville, is accused of using a knife to stab Perry, charging documents state.
Perry was found “stabbed multiple times” inside his home in the 6900 block of Church Lane, according to an Illinois State Police news release.
Police did not say how Perry and Schultz knew each other or whether a motive for the homicide had been determined.
St. Clair County Public Defender Cathy MacElroy on Tuesday raised a “bona fide doubt” about Schultz’s ability to stand trial and she asked for an expedited mental fitness exam of Schultz.
MacElroy said in an interview Thursday that Schultz is “not well” but couldn’t release further details about her medical condition.
Dr. Daniel Cuneo, a court-appointed forensic psychologist, examined Schultz on Wednesday and determined that she “is currently unfit to stand trial,” according to the order by St. Clair County Associate Judge Sara Rice on Thursday.
Based on Cuneo’s findings and Schultz’s “behavior and demeanor while in custody,” Rice’s order noted that she finds Schultz unable to stand trial.
The order states Schultz was remanded to the custody of the Illinois Department of Human Services “for fitness restoration treatment in a secure setting.”
MacElroy said she doesn’t know when Schultz would be transferred from the St. Clair County Jail to a state mental hospital but noted that there’s “no release happening.”
“She won’t have any freedom,” MacElroy said. “It’s a locked facility.”
The Department of Human Services will send someone to evaluate Schultz to determine which hospital would be appropriate for Schultz, MacElroy said.
Also, the state agency must submit to the court a treatment plan within 30 days of Schultz’s admission.
Illinois has seven mental health hospitals, including those in Alton and Chester.
Rice scheduled a Jan. 9 hearing for a fitness review of Schultz.
Schultz was booked into the county jail on Sept. 26 and she was being held there as of Thursday.
Illinois State Police special agents were requested by the East St. Louis Police Department to assist with a homicide investigation.
The St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office signed the murder charge against Schultz on Sunday.
