3rd psych exam results in for woman accused of killing kids
GOSHEN, Ind. (AP) - The third psychological examination of a Fort Wayne woman accused of smothering her two children has been completed and submitted to the court, a judge said.
Elkhart Circuit Judge Michael Christofeno acknowledged during a status hearing for Amber Pasztor on Thursday that her attorneys also had received the exam results and that prosecutors soon would receive a copy as well.
Christofeno ordered the third evaluation in March after attorneys for both sides agreed the results of her first two evaluations would likely lead to a finding that she was incompetent to assist in her own defense at trial.
The specifics of Pasztor's three evaluations have been sealed by the court, but details are likely to be discussed June 12 during her competency hearing. Christofeno also has scheduled another status conference for June 1.
Pasztor was not present in court for Thursday's hearing.
Pasztor is charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of her children, 6-year-old Rene Pasztor and 7-year-old Liliana Hernandez, last September. The children were found dead in a stolen vehicle parked behind the Elkhart Police Department. Pasztor has admitted to smothering the children to police investigators, a TV news station and former Circuit Judge Terry Shewmaker via a handwritten letter in December.
Pasztor has expressed a desire to plead guilty, but Christofeno told her the process for mental evaluation must be completed before he will allow a plea.
Indiana Department of Child Services records released by a juvenile court state Pasztor killed her children because she felt they were being threatened with violence by members of a Mexican cartel. Records also say she suffered from untreated bipolar disorder.
Because attorneys for both sides believed the DCS records were improperly released by the juvenile court, a request to seal all public records was filed in March, and temporarily granted by Christofeno. After listening to arguments during a hearing April 26, Christofeno took the motion to seal under further advisement.