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A 27-year-old Castle Dale man charged with the shotgun slaying of his parents in October has been declared incompetent to stand trial, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Peter Simon Sharp is charged in 7th District Court with two counts of first-degree felony aggravated murder for allegedly killing his father, William Sharp, 51, and mother, Charmaine Sharp, 54, at the family's home.
He also is charged with aggravated assault for allegedly pointing a shotgun at his 12-year-old sister.
Judge George Harmond Jr. on Tuesday found Sharp incompetent to stand trial after reviewing mental evaluations performed by two doctors.
"The defendant is currently suffering from a mental disorder, although the precise nature of his illness has not been determined," Harmond wrote in his decision. Sharp's possible diagnoses include catatonic schizophrenia, psychotic disorder, intermittent explosive disorder, cognitive disorder, schizotypal personality disorder and borderline intellectual functioning.
Harmond wrote that Sharp is incapable of understanding the charges against him and is unable to disclose pertinent facts of the case to his attorneys.
Harmond ordered Sharp to be committed to the Utah Department of Human Services, where he will undergo treatment designed to restore his competency so he is able to stand trial at a future date.
He set a review hearing for June 1.
Emery County Sheriff Lamar Guymon has said that on the morning of Oct. 21, Peter Sharp picked up a shotgun and killed his father in the bedroom of their home, then killed his mother in the kitchen. Minutes later, deputies found the defendant walking on Main Street and arrested him.
Guymon has said Peter Sharp's mental disability appears to be the cause of the shooting.
An uncle, Kelly Sharp, previously told The Salt Lake Tribune that Peter Sharp -- the oldest of 10 children in the family -- suffered brain damage during a truck crash years ago.
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