PORT TOWNSEND — A Port Ludlow man charged with the second-degree murder of a LaPush woman will not stand trial until the completion of a competency evaluation, a judge has ruled.
Evan Daniel Thompson, 33, is accused of strangling Virginia Guadalupe Castaneda, 20, in his Port Ludlow home July 23.
Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies said they found him in the early morning hours that day in the backyard of the house at 1771 Swansonville Road with cuts on his wrists and a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
He was yelling that he had killed his girlfriend because she was a spy, according to the probable-cause statement field in court.
Castaneda’s body was found in an upstairs bedroom.
Thompson has been charged with one count of murder in the second degree-domestic violence. A $1 million bond was set.
He is to remain in the Jefferson County jail, where he will be evaluated by personnel from Western State Hospital, according to the ruling Friday.
Court appearance Sept. 4
His next scheduled court appearance will be at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 4 in Jefferson County Superior Court in the county courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend.
The results of the evaluation will be presented at that time, although they could be available earlier, according to Prosecuting Attorney Michael Haas.
Thompson is in need of psychiatric examination prior to proceeding further to determine whether he understands the charges against him and is capable of assisting in his own defense, court documents say.
Call from mother
According to a probable-cause statement prepared by Jefferson County Sheriff’s Detective Brett Anglin, the initial call to emergency dispatchers July 23 was from Tracy Thompson, Evan Thompson’s mother.
She said her son had shot himself, jumped out of a second-story window and was standing in the backyard holding a gun to his head, the statement said.
Deputies then discovered Castaneda’s body.
Medical units arrived and sedated Thompson. He was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
He was treated and discharged July 27 into the custody of the Jefferson County sheriff and was booked into the jail in Port Hadlock.
Castaneda’s death was ruled as asphyxiation due to strangulation July 27.
Hospital interview
During a one-hour recorded hospital interview, Thompson admitted to choking Castaneda to death, detectives said in a report.
They said he told them he killed her after realizing she “was working a job against him.”
“During the interview, Evan communicated frequent thoughts of paranoia where many friends and family were plotting against him,” the report said.
“Evan appeared to be under the belief that Castaneda was working for a government agency to formulate a case against him.”
Deputies said they found at the house a note apparently written by Thompson that included a profanity as well as stating: “I killed the woman I loved.”
Superior Court Judge Keith Harper imposed bond on Haas’ recommendation after the prosecuting attorney cited three past warrants and two convictions for jumping bail.
Thompson’s apparent suicide attempt after the crime showed that he was a danger to himself and others, Haas said.
Thompson is represented by Scott Charlton of Jefferson Associated Counsel.
Thompson faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and/or a $50,000 fine plus restitution and court costs, Harper said.
