Va. man accused of beheading mom to be evaluated

VINTON, Va. (AP) — A judge has ordered a new psychiatric evaluation for a Vinton man accused of beheading his mother.

Twenty-nine-year-old Dean Austin Selbe is charged with first-degree murder. An evaluation conducted at Central State Hospital in March found that Selbe was competent to stand trial.

The Roanoke Times (http://bit.ly/1uAZWb0 ) reports that Selbe’s lawyer, Michael Massey, requested the new evaluation. Massey told Roanoke County Circuit Court Judge James Swanson on Tuesday that Selbe’s mental state has since deteriorated.

Police say Selbe’s mother, 55-year-old Karen J. Selbe, was found dead in her apartment in Vinton on Jan. 26. Her head had been severed from her body.

___

Information from: The Roanoke Times, http://www.roanoke.com

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up