NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. – The man accused of fatally shooting his wife and their adult daughter and son at their Nassau County home is now said to be competent for trial despite a previous history of being ruled not competent, according to a psychologist who examined him at the state mental health hospital in Macclenny.
William Broyles’s last psychiatric evaluation was in December.
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The State Attorney’s Office said in court Tuesday that William Broyles has been exaggerating his symptoms to avoid prosecution and a possible death penalty sentence if convicted.
A Department of Children and Families psychologist said Broyles, who has had three mental competency evaluations, is not competent to stand trial as long as he receives his anti-psychotic medicine, as ordered by a judge.
Broyles has been at Northeast Florida State Hospital since his commitment and took his medicine without a problem. But, the SAO told a judge on Tuesday that since he was transferred back to the Nassau County jail in January, he’s refused to take his medicine.
Assistant State Attorney Alan Mizrahi said the state believes he’s malingering, trying to get away with murdering his family. He said Broyles had no history of mental illness before the murders, and only after the murders was mental illness diagnosed.
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Mizrahi also said the December report contains evidence that Broyles is exaggerating his symptoms.
The defense called psychologist Jennifer Rohrer, who said Broyle’s symptoms are “consistent with serious mental illness” after she admitted that she’s only read the latest examination report and had not examined Broyles herself.
She said if malingering was suspected, some tests should’ve been done to determine the truth.
Rohrer told defense attorneys that the report did not mention Broyles’ suicidal ideations or delusions and said, “If he’s still delusional how can he testify relevantly?”
She said Broyles remains psychotic, made up a medical term from which he’s suffering, and is not able to assist in his defense.
There was general agreement that too much time had passed from Broyles’ last evaluation.
The judge did not make a ruling. Broyles’ next hearing is May 16.