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WARREN -- A finding that a Trumbull County death-row inmate convicted in the rape and fatal stabbing of his adoptive grandmother is incompetent to face the death penalty will require reevaluation of his competency in two years.
The hearing Thursday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court involved two defense motions. One challenges the mental state of 45-year-old Sean Carter, challenging whether he can be executed under Ohio law, and the other argues Carter suffered from a "serious mental illness" at the time of the 1997 crime.
The defense presented evidence indicating that three doctors concluded Carter's mental condition had deteriorated while in custody, rendering him incompetent to be executed at this time.
Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Judge Sean O'Brien ruled Carter incompetent for execution and scheduled a review hearing in two years. If found competent at that time, the state intends to contest Carter's claim of serious mental illness at the time of the crime.
The Trumbull County Prosecutor's Office stated Carter was evaluated by two psychiatrists and a psychologist at the time of trial, and was found to be both competent and sane.
Carter's conviction stems from the fatal stabbing of 82-year-old Veader Prince at her Southington home, Sept. 13, 1997, when Carter was 18.
Carter had been passed through several foster homes and adopted by Evelyn Prince Carter at the age of 10. After being kicked out of the home, he landed in the care of his adoptive grandmother after he had been jailed for theft.
Carter told investigators he climbed through a window to convince Prince to allow him to stay. A confrontation escalated and Carter beat, raped and stabbed the woman 18 times.
Afterward, Carter tried covering up the crime scene, changed his bloody clothing and stole money from Prince's purse before fleeing.
He eventually was captured by authorities in Beaver County, Pa., the following day. He confessed to the murder.
In March 1998, a Trumbull County jury convicted him of aggravated murder and two capital specifications -- aggravated robbery and rape. The jury also found him guilty of aggravated robbery, rape and the lesser included offense of aggravated burglary.