Kentucky officials seek to block release of Gavin Perkins, once charged in mom's murder
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Kentucky officials are working to intervene in the case of a man at the center of a high-profile murder case five years ago who is scheduled to be released from a psychiatric hospital.
The Jefferson County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office filed a petition last week seeking the involuntary hospitalization of Gavin Perkins, who was accused in 2018 of killing his mother in a shooting, for an additional 360 days. Perkins' case was dismissed in 2021 after he was twice deemed incompetent to stand trial but since April he has been committed for treatment at Central State Hospital, a state-run psychiatric hospital in La Grange.
Perkins' 60-day treatment period was set to end Saturday, though, and he was scheduled to be released, according to a statement from Perkins' family after the petition was denied by the hospital's doctors.
"We are very fearful for ourselves and the general public," the statement said.
Perkins, now 44, was 38 at the time of the shooting. His mother, Ruth Perkins, was 69 when she was shot. In court filings, Gavin Perkins' representatives have said he is a former U.S. military member who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and a "delusional disorder."
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The petition Thursday was denied, but the case wasn't closed.
On Friday, Gov. Andy Beshear and the local commonwealth's attorney's office said they had referred the case to the office of Attorney General Daniel Cameron, asking the state's top legal officer to take up the case. Cameron confirmed that evening he had requested to intervene, pledging to "use all of the prosecutorial authority to help keep communities safe."
As Kentucky’s chief law enforcement officer, I’ve requested that the governor allow my office to intervene in the Gavin Perkins case. Doing so allows us to use all of the prosecutorial authority to help keep communities safe.
— Attorney General Daniel Cameron (@kyoag) June 10, 2023
Cameron's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Courier Journal. WDRB reported Pickens remained in custody as of Sunday, citing a family member.
In a release Thursday, the commonwealth's attorney's office said its push to keep him hospitalized was aimed "to ensure the safety of Ruth Perkins’ family and the public." And in a separate statement that day, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said he was "relieved" to see the prosecutor's office take action and would monitor the case.
Jefferson County Commonwealth's Attorney Gerina Whethers said she has spent "countless hours listening and seeking out options to keep the Perkins family and this community safe" during her first three weeks on the job. Filing for the motion was "the best option to keep Mr. Perkins off the street" after his criminal case was dismissed.
Gov. Beshear has spoken to the Commonwealth's Attorney and she wants to honor the wishes of the Perkins family, and the Governor agrees. They will be referring the case to the Attorney General’s office.
— Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) June 9, 2023
A public defender who represented Perkins during his criminal trial now works in New Hampshire, according to online records, and Susan Dunlap, who handles communications for Central State Hospital, did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent Friday evening about the status of the case.
Reach Lucas Aulbach at laulbach@courier-journal.com.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Hospital set to release Gavin Perkins, once charged in mother's murder
