Man charged with killing THPD detective to pursue insanity defense

Apr. 23—Shane Meehan, the Terre Haute man federally charged with killing Greg Ferency, a city police detective and FBI Task Force agent, intends to pursue an insanity defense.

Attorneys for Meehan in early April filed a notice of insanity defense, and federal prosecutors filed a motion seeking an additional mental health exam. That examination will be regarding the existence of insanity at the time of the alleged offenses — July 7, 2021.

Both sides agreed a re-examination should include that evaluation, and U.S. District Judge James P. Hanlon issued an order April 11.

When the examination is complete, the clinicians involved will provide their findings to the court, the defense and the prosecution.

In the interim, Meehan remains at Federal Medical Center-Butner, a federal Bureau of Prisons facility in North Carolina.

Meehan faces up to life imprisonment if convicted. Prosecutors previously informed the court they would not seek the death penalty.

Ferency was shot to death July 7, 2021, outside the FBI office in Terre Haute, which at the time was along First Street not far from the Vigo County Courthouse.

The government alleges Meehan, then 44, drove his pickup truck to the gate of the property, got out of his truck and threw a Molotov cocktail at the office building.

Ferency then came outside and was shot by Meehan, the government says.

Meehan was arrested the same day. He was later indicted on federal charges of premeditated murder of a federal officer, attempted arson on federal property, and the use, carry or discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence causing death.

Ferency, 53, was a 30-year veteran of the Terre Haute Police Department.