The co-defendant of the woman accused of smothering Ted Allan Thompson to death with a pillow last year in Elkton has been deemed mentally competent to stand trial.
Thirty-one-year-old Krystie Chancey is charged with murder, several counts of receiving stolen property and theft and with being a persistent felony offender. Kentucky State Police allege that Chancey smothered Thompson to death at his home on Shelby Avenue and then used the assistance of 25-year old Russell Walker to steal property from inside the home and they left for Tennessee in Thompson’s car. Walker is charged with five counts of receiving stolen property and two counts of felony theft.
Dr. Steven Sparks of the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Complex testified Wednesday in Todd Circuit Court on his evaluation of Walker, telling Commonwealth’s Attorney Neil Kerr that while Walker does have mental disorder, he is able to assist in his own defense.
Defense attorney Michael Cotthoff discussed Walker potentially having dissociative personality disorder—formerly known as multiple personality disorder—and Dr. Sparks acknowledged a person with the disorder could exhibit symptoms similar to memory loss. It wasn’t confirmed whether Walker suffers from that issue.
Circuit Judge Joe Hendricks ultimately ruled Walker competent to stand trial.
Walker did not appear and is sought on an arrest warrant.
A pre-trial conference for Chancey was postponed until July 15, when the court hopes to know more on the status of Walker, who would likely be called as a witness at her trial.
