Judge Rules Joe Gentz Competent to Stand Trial in Jane Bashara Homicide

A second competency evaluation completed by a private doctor found similar findings to that of the state doctor regarding Joe Gentz, who is charged in the January strangulation death of Jane Bashara.

While Joe Gentz does have some intellectual deficits, none are so severe as to impact his decisions and understanding of the charges he is facing in the January strangulation death of Jane Bashara, according to findings by a second, private forensic psychologist who evaluated him. The findings were released Wednesday afternoon in 36th District Court by Gentz's court-appointed attorney, Susan Reed. The psychologist, Charles R. Clark, found that Gentz does not exhibit signs of bipolar disorder, which had been a diagnosis earlier in his life. Nor does Gentz exhibit signs of psychosis or other psychiatric impairments, according to the findings Reed read in court. Gentz demonstrated behavior and attention during the evaluation that the doctor …

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