CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — The Fairmont man who is accused of killing four people, including two innocent bystanders, in Clarksburg on July 26 will undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine if he is competent to stand trial.
Harrison County Chief Judge James Matish granted that request from attorneys for Sidney Muller, 27, on Tuesday in Harrison County Circuit Court.
Muller was charged with four counts of first degree murder for allegedly shooting and killing Christopher Hart, 26, of Clarksburg, and Todd Russell Amos, 29, of Clarksburg along with Freddy Donald Swiger, 70, and his son, Fred Swiger, 47, of Harrison County, who were delivering newspapers at the time.
Investigators have said Muller was at the Locust Ave. home to collect a $10,000 drug debt owed for pills he had previously provided.
The Swigers, who had been delivering newspapers for 30 years, were not involved in the drug activity.
Dr. Bobby Miller, a Huntington forensic psychiatrist, will evaluate Muller on September 26 at the North Central Regional Jail to determine if he is mentally competent to stand trial for the four murders.
“Dr. Miller will fashion his report and furnish that the court and, also, to the prosecution and the defense,” said Harrison County Prosecuting Attorney Joe Shaffer. He has reserved the right to have an independent evaluation of Muller conducted.