A judge has ordered a competency evaluation for an Oklahoma City man accused of first-degree murder in Custer County.
Dennis Ray Rigsby Jr., 37, appeared in court Tuesday with his attorney Richard Yohn, who requested the competency evaluation. Assistant District Attorney Ricky McPhearson did not object and Judge Jill Weedon ordered the evaluation.
With the order, the case was stayed pending the evaluation, which is due by July 22.
Dennis Ray Rigsby Jr. 37 of Oklahoma City, told authorities when they arrived on scene Saturday, “I plead the 5th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.”
Authorities believe Rigsby is the man responsible for the death of Judy Mullin, 66 of Azusa, California. Court records show Mullin is Rigsby’s mother.
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed Monday in the district court, Clinton police and Sinor EMS responded to the Love’s Truck Stop, 10331 N. 2310 Road, east of Clinton.
Upon arrival, medical personnel made contact with a man who self-identified as Dennis Rigsby. Rigsby had dried blood on his hands and cheek. As medical personnel and officers tried to give Rigsby medical attention, he pleaded the 5th, the affidavit reads.
When officers told Rigsby they were trying to help him, he said, “Someone in that van needs help,” court records indicate.
As officers looked inside a Chevrolet camper van, they found blood on a seat inside the vehicle. As officers opened the door to the camper, they found Mullin deceased on the floor between the front two seats of the van with trauma to her head, the affidavit reads.
Clinton police asked for assistance from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI). OSBI Special Agent Trevor Ridgeway interviewed Judy Mullin’s brother, Clifford, of Oklahoma City. Clifford Mullin told Ridgeway his sister and Rigsby had left Clifford’s residence the night before on their way to California, court records show.
The two were by themselves, Clifford said, also advising Ridgeway about Rigsby being released from the McAlester State Penitentiary June 2.
Court records show Rigsby was convicted of firstdegree manslaughter in Oklahoma County in 2004. He also pleaded guilty to grand larceny in Oklahoma County in 2002, pleaded guilty to placing bodily fluids upon government employee in Oklahoma County in 2006.
Rigsby did speak with law enforcement, an interview which was video recorded, waiving his Miranda rights, the affidavit reads.
In the interview, Rigsby allegedly said he was alone with Judy as they were driving to California along Interstate 40. Rigsby said he thought someone was going to kill him. Rigsby said he asked for Judy’s phone and Judy refused to give it to him. He planned to throw the phone out the window, court records indicate.
Rigsby allegedly said he knew he should not have, but he punched Judy in the face. Rigsby admitted to choking Judy with some clothes and also hitting her with something in the vehicle. Rigsby recalled Judy saying Rigsby was going to kill her, the affidavit reads.
Bond has been set for $1 million. Rigsby is scheduled to be in court July 24 for a preliminary hearing conference.
An attorney date is set for Monday and a preliminary hearing conference has been set for July 24.