Woman Needs More Mental Tests Before Trial

A woman charged with shooting and wounding her mother and sister is not competent to stand trial and must continue to undergo psychological evaluations, a judge has ruled.

In October, Walla Walla County Superior Court Judge Donald W. Schacht ordered Mary L. Cluck to undergo 90 days of evaluation at Eastern State Hospital to determine if she could become competent to stand trial.

On Friday, the judge ordered another 90 days of evaluation after ruling that Cluck still was incapable of assisting in her defense.

Hospital staff and a defense expert agree that Cluck suffers from a severe psychotic disorder and has a long history of exhibiting paranoia. Authorities believe she may have shot her relatives in a belief that they were part of a government conspiracy against her.

Cluck, 47, is charged with three counts of first-degree assault. She is accused in the shooting of her mother, Mabel Searles, and sister, Karen Dempsey, at a family gathering July 30 at Searles’ Burbank home.

Prosecutors allege Cluck also shot at a second sister, who was not hurt.

Searles was hospitalized for several weeks after the shooting, while Dempsey was treated and released.