Bernie man declared incompetent to stand trial

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Bernie, Mo., man charged in connection with a 2010 murder has been declared mentally retarded and incompetent to stand trial.

Allen McCoy, accused in the June 2010 murder of 67-year-old Aubrey Lee Finch of Bernie, appeared in court Wednesday as a result of the filing of three medical opinions regarding his mental state.

The defense filed reports from two physicians who stated that McCoy was mentally retarded; one of the doctors said McCoy was incompetent to stand trial at this time.

The state then sent McCoy to one of its physicians, who reached the same conclusion.

As a result, Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russell Oliver and McCoy's attorney entered into an agreement that will send McCoy to a mental health facility in Fulton, Mo.

McCoy will receive competency training to understand a trial, medication adjustments and anything deemed necessary to help him reach the point at which he would be found fit to stand trial.

In six months, Judge Robert Mayer will receive a report on McCoy's status. At that time it will be determined whether his stay will be extended or if he will return to Stoddard County for trial.

An autopsy conducted in Farmington, Mo., ruled that Finch died as a result of "multiple stab wounds to the head and neck."

According to a probable-cause statement filed by Cpl. J.D. Johnson of the Missouri State Water Patrol and assigned to the Stoddard County Major Case Squad on June 28, a witness contacted the New Madrid County Sheriff's Department and reported that McCoy, aka "Smurf," claimed to have stabbed an 87-year-old man and robbed him.

He also stated McCoy had burned some items in a ditch in front of the witness' house.

The report stated three other witnesses heard McCoy state he stabbed "an old man" in Bernie and robbed him.

McCoy's wife Angela also is accused in the murder. Both are being held in the Stoddard County Jail without bond.

Pertinent address:

Bernie, Mo.

Bloomfield, Mo.