McHenry Co. murder suspect may never be fit for trial, doctors testify

A McHenry County man charged with burning a woman to death suffers such severe dementia that he probably never will be mentally fit to stand trial, a neuropsychologist testified Tuesday.

The syndrome drastically limits Lawrence Hucksteadt's short-term memory, attention span and ability to organize his thoughts, said Tony Fletcher, one of the murder suspect's psychologists at the Elgin Mental Health Center.

"His ability to simply pay attention to what you're saying, and code that into memory, that's a difficulty for him," Fletcher said. "I feel he will never be able to assist in his defense. He is unfit to stand trial."

Fletcher on Tuesday was one of two mental health professionals - and the third since Monday - to testify that Hucksteadt, of Woodstock, is unfit for trial.

Their testimony came during an ongoing hearing to determine whether the 45-year-old Hucksteadt can stand trial on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated arson and heinous battery in connection with a July 2004 attack on a receptionist at a Woodstock mental health clinic.

Authorities say Hucksteadt argued with Ellen Polivka, 69, inside the Woodstock clinic, left briefly, then returned with a can of gasoline. He poured the gasoline over her, charges allege, then set her on fire. Polivka died about a month later.

Dr. Hargurmukh Singh, a psychiatrist at the Elgin Mental Health Center, concurred Tuesday with Fletcher's take, testifying that though Hucksteadt may pass the first prong of fitness - understanding the legal process - he cannot pass the second, being able to assist in his defense.

"He cannot put two and two together," Singh said. "He cannot see the big picture. He has no memory of the alleged incident for which he was charged and has trouble organizing his thoughts."

Singh and Fletcher both have been treating Hucksteadt since June 2007 in a special unit that works to make criminal suspects mentally fit for trial. Their success rate is about 90 to 95 percent, Singh said.

Their testimony contradicts that of psychologist Edward Mahoney, who testified for county prosecutors earlier this month that Hucksteadt is fit for trial.

The hearing is scheduled to conclude May 15 with a final prosecution witness. If Hucksteadt is ruled fit for trial, he will pursue an insanity defense. If found unfit, authorities would act to keep him locked up through an involuntarily commitment.

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