A suspect who allegedly killed four people in Marion has been ruled competent to stand trial, according to a medical assessment.
Luke Truesdell, 34, was charged with four counts of first-degree murder after police say he allegedly used a metal pipe to beat four people to death outside the Cedar Rapids suburb in June.
The court ordered a medical assessment in late July. Truesdell underwent a psychiatric evaluation to see if he was suffering from a mental disorder that would limit him during the criminal proceedings.
The Iowa Medical Classification Center’s evaluation found that Truesdell “is competent to stand trial,” according to court fillings on Monday. The court said that Truesdell’s attorney did not provide additional evidence to suggest incompetence and agreed he could stand trial.
A July 24 court order suspended criminal proceedings until evaluation results were returned. That order has been lifted and a jury trial is set to begin on April 8, 2025.
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