By Terry James
BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington man accused of killing his parents has been found mentally unfit to stand trial.
25 year old Brian Petersen pleaded not guilty to the crimes Friday. He was evaluated by a Springfield psychiatrist who presented a report to the judge. McLean County State’s Attorney Jason Chambers explains what this means.
“So all that the court is looking at right now is the fitness issue,” said Chambers. “And fitness means does he understand the nature of the proceedings against him and is he able to communicate with his client to present any sort of response to the allegations against him?”
Chambers says Petersen will be sent to a mental health facility until he is fit to stand trial and then a criminal case could continue. Prosecutors say he stabbed his parents Bruce and Nancy Petersen at their rural Bloomington home last month.
Terry James can be reached at terry@wjbc.com.
