(Chatham) — Five years after a high-profile triple homicide in Pittsylvania County, the suspect has been found competent to stand trial.
A judge heard testimony from mental health experts in the case of 22-year old Matthew Bernard. On nine previous occasions, he had been ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial for the 2019 shooting deaths of three family members in Keeling.
He’s been treated the past four-plus years in an effort to restore him to competency.
Bernard faces multiple first-degree murder charges in the murders of his 62-year old mother, Joan Bernard—his 25-year old sister Emily Bernard Bivens and her 14-month-old son, Cullen Bivens.
It happened in August of 2019 at the family’s home. Hours after the murder, Bernard emerged naked from a wooded area shortly after police had given a media update. He ran to a wooded area and was arrested a short time later.
WSET reports Bernard waived his right to a preliminary hearing, and is set to appear in court next month.