Marcus Erikson:Judge orders psych evaluation for Illinois man charged in 4 killings

2025-05-06 19:10:06source:Phaninccategory:reviews

ROCKFORD,Marcus Erikson Ill. (AP) — A judge on Monday ordered a psychiatric evaluation for a northern Illinois man charged with killing four people and injuring seven others by stabbing, beating and driving over them.

Winnebago County Judge Debra Schafer ordered the evaluation for Christian Soto when the 22-year-old man appeared in court by video link for a scheduled arraignment on charges of first-degree murder.

Soto’s arraignment now is scheduled for May 17.

Assistant State’s Attorney Ken LaRue said the case would go before a grand jury on Friday.

Soto’s attorney, Glenn Jazwiec, said he had no comment on the judge’s order.

Authorities have said Soto was behind a series of frenzied attacks on March 27 at multiple addresses in a Rockford neighborhood, but they haven’t determined a motive.

The Winnebago County coroner has identified those killed as 63-year-old Romona Schupbach; 23-year-old Jacob Schupbach; 49-year-old Jay Larson; and 15-year-old Jenna Newcomb.

Winnebago County State’s Attorney J. Hanley has said Soto told police after his arrest that he had smoked marijuana with Jacob Schupbach and believed the drugs “were laced with an unknown narcotic” that made him paranoid.

READ MORE Illinois man charged in 4 killings ordered to remain in jail pending trialSuspect charged with murder, attempted murder in deadly Rockford rampage4 people killed and 7 wounded in stabbings in northern Illinois, with a suspect in custody

Soto first fatally stabbed Schupbach and his mother, then he beat, stabbed and used a truck to run over Larson, who was working as a mail carrier, authorities said. He next wounded three people inside one home, and beat Newcomb, her sister and a friend with a baseball bat inside another home, according to authorities. The attacks happened within a matter of minutes.

Winnebago County sheriff deputies arrested Soto as he fled from another home where he had stabbed a woman but had been slowed down by a driver who stopped to intervene, authorities said.

More:reviews

Recommend

Maryland’s Climate Ambitions in Question After Turbulent Legislative Session

Environmental leaders in Maryland are reeling from a challenging 2025 legislative session that left

Lando Norris outruns Max Verstappen to win F1 Dutch Grand Prix

ZANDVOORT, Netherlands - McLaren's Lando Norris ended Max Verstappen's unbeaten home record with a c

NCAA issues Notice of Allegations to Michigan for sign-stealing scandal

The Michigan Wolverines football program received a Notice of Allegations from the NCAA on Sunday, p