Thibodaux, La. - A sunny Sunday morning in August turned into one of the worst days in Thibodaux history.
A passerby spotted the head of a small child outside a home. Police arrived and found the body of 7-year-old Jori Lirette nearby, stuffed into garbage bags.
Officers immediately arrested his father, Jeremiah Wright, and a grand jury later charged him with first degree murder. Two months after Jori's death, a judge ruled Wright incompetent to stand trial at that time.
Several of the doctors who examined Wright said he showed little emotion and called Jori a robot or a dummy. Wright claimed to hear voices and said he was part of a government-sponsored social experiment.
He spent nine months in the care of Eastern Louisiana Mental Health Services, and then doctors there declared him ready to stand trial. The hospital's report claimed Wright was malingering, making up or exaggerating the symptoms of mental illness. But Wright's attorney maintains he's still incompetent to stand trial.
Judge John LeBlanc is expected to submit his decision on Wright's competency in writing by Thursday afternoon. If Wright stands trial and is found guilty, he could face the death penalty.
Jeremiah Wright (File)
