Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Evaluation ordered for Eastman homicide suspect
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. — A judge Monday ordered a competency evaluation for Mona West just after the rural Crawford County woman was charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the shooting death of a man she lived with Aug. 14.
The evaluation will gauge whether West, 42, is able to aid in her own defense, said her attorney, Russell Hanson of Westby, Wis.
West, who is being held in the Crawford County Jail on a $500,000 cash bond, is accused of shooting Gus Brown III in the back and head about midnight Aug. 15 after he returned to the home they shared at 29446 Hwy. 27 in the town of Eastman.
A criminal complaint filed by Crawford County District Attorney Tim Baxter contends West twice admitted killing Brown but included no details about her motive.
Dr. Robert Huntington’s autopsy on Brown found either shot could have been fatal, according to the complaint.
The shot to the back went through a major blood vessel to the heart and caused massive internal bleeding, while the other bullet went through the top of Brown’s skull and brain before lodging in his neck, according to the complaint.
The complaint noted West eventually called the sheriff’s department in neighboring Grant County to report the shooting and make arrangements to turn herself in.
She also showed up at a female friend’s home and told her she had shot Brown and dropped the gun by his body, according to the complaint.
A sheriff’s deputy found Brown’s body in a pool of blood with a semi-automatic handgun by his head.
After ordering the competency evaluation, Crawford County Judge Michael Kirchman set a status conference for 2 p.m. Sept. 13.
Dan Springer can be reached at (608) 791-8269 or dspringer@lacrossetribune.com.
All stories copyright 2000 - 2006 La Crosse Tribune and other attributed sources.