Boise man accused of killing ex-girlfriend found incompetent; prosecutor disagrees
A Boise man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend appeared in court Wednesday after a state evaluator found the suspect incompetent to stand trial.
Police arrested David L. Randall, 56, after his ex-girlfriend Darla Fletcher, 56, was found dead at his Boise home in December. Prosecutors said Fletcher had been beaten and stabbed to death, and there was evidence that she had been tortured.
An evaluation of Randall’s mental health was ordered last month at the defense’s request. Pursuant to Idaho law, a defendant must be able to assist in his own defense and understand court proceedings before a trial proceeds.
The findings of the mental health evaluation are not public record.
Ada County Deputy Prosecutor John Dinger challenged the competency conclusion Wednesday afternoon, and a hearing was set for 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 7 for arguments.
Depending on the outcome of the hearing, Ada County Magistrate Judge David Manweiler could commit Randall to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare for competency restoration. The decision would not mean his charge would be dismissed — only that Randall must be competent before his trial may begin.
Fletcher reportedly ended her relationship with Randall and moved out of the Boise home they shared on Cambria Lane last year. She returned in mid-December because they arranged a time for her to pick up some belongings. Prosecutors also previously said Randall had been stalking Fletcher for about a month before her death, and multiple people were concerned for her safety.
Randall is still in custody at the Ada County Jail without bond and is charged on suspicion of first-degree murder.
Randall could be the fourth suspect in recent Ada County history to be charged with a violent crime and then found temporarily incompetent to stand trial.
Andrew Ray Garcia was found incompetent to stand trial in November after being charged on suspicion of murder for allegedly beating a man to death in Ann Morrison Park. Garcia’s next court date is set for Jan. 29.
Timmy Kinner is accused of stabbing nine people in 2018, fatally wounding a 3-year-old girl, and he was temporarily unfit to stand trial. Ruben Diaz was found temporarily unfit to stand trial after being accused of attacking a 74-year-old stranger in Boise last year.
Kinner and Diaz have both been restored to competency and await trial.
Need help?
The Women’s and Children’s Alliance in Boise is available at 208-343-7025 for victims of domestic violence or online at wcaboise.org.
The Faces of Hope Victim Center is available for victims in need of emergency services at 417 S. 6th St. in Boise. Victims should call 911 in emergencies or call 208-577-4400 on weekdays during business hours. Faces of Hope provides free medical care and forensic examinations for victims, as well as assistance with filing police reports and mental health care after an assault.
Anyone in need of help or who believes they may be in a violent relationship is encouraged to contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
This story was originally published January 15, 2020 at 2:15 PM.
