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Donald Lawrence Meshey Jr., now 35 originally of 202 West Strawberry Street was arrested on Aug. 11, 2021, after admitting to police that he stabbed and dismembered his father, as Daily Voice reported at the time. He was charged with criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with evidence, court records show.
Meshey Jr. appeared before Judge Dennis Reinaker virtually from the Lancaster County Prison at 10 a.m. on Monday, an updated court docket shows.
The judge "based his order on a report from a forensic psychiatrist who interviewed Meshey Jr. and reviewed relevant reports to the case," as stated in the DA's release.
He will be removed from the prison and "will be transferred to Norristown State Hospital, Torrance State Hospital, or any other facility approved for mental health treatment," the DA explained.
But he will be reevaluated every 90 days to check if his competency to stand trial has changed. This means "a defendant must be able to participate in their own defense and understand the nature of the proceedings against them in order to stand trial," according to the DA.
Assistant District Attorneys Mark Fetterman and CJ Restemayer stipulated to the psychiatrist’s report and did not oppose the recommendation for treatment.
His first reevaluation is scheduled before Judge Reineker at 9 a.m. on May 2, Meshey Jr.'s docket shows.
This is the second beheading of a Pennsylvania dad that Daily Voice has reported on. Click here to read about Justin Mohn who beheaded his dad Michael and posted a video showing the head on YouTube.
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