Judge Orders Camarillo Man Charged With Murdering And Dismembering His Mother To Be Committed To State Mental Hospital Now
Thursday February 15, 2024
Update--A judge Thursday ordered that the Camarillo man accused of murdering and then dismembering his mother be committed immediately to a State Mental Hospital now.
The judge rejected continued treatment of David Hoetzlein in a Ventura County Jail Based Treatment Program.
The judge made that determination Thursday following a court-appointed psychiatrist's report on the mental state of 26-year-old David Hoetzlein.
Both prosecution and the defense stipulated to the doctor's findings.
Hoetzlein was arrested in June of 2022, a few hours after the dismembered remains of his mother, 62-year-old Tomoko, were found in the trash enclosure near their residence in the Las Positas Apartments in the 300 block of Townsite Promenade in Camarillo.
He was booked into the Ventura County Jail on one count of murder.
But Hoetzlein has a history of mental illness and was found not competent to face the criminal charges against him.
Up to now he has been treated in the jail based program because of a backlog in criminal commitments to state mental facilities.
But the judge ordered Thursday...
| The Court orders Defendant be placed at Department of State Hospital and not JBCT Program | |||||
| 02/15/2024 | The defendant is remanded forthwith to the custody of the Sheriff. The Sheriff is ordered to transport the defendant to any State Hospital as directed by the Patient Management Unit. Without further order of the court, the Sheriff's Department is directed to redeliver the defendant to court upon a copy of certification of restoration from the state hospital or treatment facility. |
||||
Should doctors restore his mental competency, Hoetzlein could then face the murder charge against him.
This issue of mental competency now is separate and apart from whether Hoetzlein was insane at the time of the killing.
