In Tompkins County Court last week, Keith Rowser Jr., 29, pleaded not responsible by reason of mental disease for the 2023 fatal shooting of his father.
The incident, which occurred in the town of Ithaca on July 19 and left Keith Rowser Sr. dead, was evaluated by a court-ordered psychological assessment that diagnosed Rowser Jr. with schizophrenia, compounded by substance abuse, which led to delusions at the time of the crime.
County Court Judge Joseph R. Cassidy has mandated further mental health evaluations for Rowser to ascertain if he is dangerously mentally ill. Depending on these findings, he may be institutionalized for six months, with continuous assessments every two years to monitor his condition.
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