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Aiken County residents have received assurances from Representative Bill Taylor that Casey Douglas, a double murder suspect, will not be moved to an elder care facility in Monetta. Douglas, who has faced serious charges since 2018, remains at Bryan Psychiatric Hospital while legal proceedings continue. Judge Mark Hayes II ruled that Douglas is incompetent to stand trial but does not require inpatient care, raising concerns about public safety in the community. The case remains under review as appeals are filed.

Aiken, South Carolina – Residents of Aiken County received reassurance from local lawmaker Representative Bill Taylor regarding the status of Casey Douglas, an alleged double murderer who was initially ordered to be relocated to a Monetta elder care facility. Taylor emphasized that Douglas will not be moved to Monetta, addressing community concerns amid growing media attention on the case.

Casey Douglas, who has been in custody since October 2018, faces serious charges, including two counts of murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. The charges stem from an incident in Spartanburg County, where Douglas is accused of fatally stabbing 52-year-old Craig Jenkins and 28-year-old Stephanie Jenkins during what authorities describe as a delusional episode.

Murder in South Carolina is classified as a felony offense punishable by either the death penalty or a prison sentence ranging from 30 years to life. Similarly, possession of a weapon during a violent crime is also a felony, which typically leads to an additional five years in prison unless the individual receives a death or life sentence.

Following his arrest, a hearing on Douglas’s competency to stand trial took place on November 5, 2019. He was subsequently diagnosed with schizophrenia and deemed not competent to stand trial, a ruling that was reaffirmed on January 7, 2020. Since then, Douglas has been under treatment, first at Bryan Psychiatric Hospital near Columbia, a facility operated by the South Carolina Department of Mental Health, where he was enrolled on November 20, 2020.

Recently, the Department of Mental Health informed the court that Douglas no longer requires inpatient hospitalization, which prompted the need for a new hearing to reassess his competency. During this review, conducted on October 9, 2024, Dr. Matthew Gaskins testified that he believed Douglas still lacked the competence to stand trial.

Despite these evaluations, Judge Mark Hayes II ruled that Douglas was incompetent to stand trial but no longer required inpatient care, leading to the controversial order for his release to Generations of Monetta Community Residential Care Facility. This decision raised alarm among residents and led to significant discussions about public safety.

Solicitor Barry Barnette voiced concerns that Douglas would present a danger to the community if released and argued for his continued detention at Bryan Psychiatric Hospital. However, Judge Hayes determined that Douglas would not pose a threat under specified conditions during his treatment in the community. Following this ruling, the solicitor and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced their intention to appeal the decision.

As per the current status, Douglas remains at Bryan Psychiatric Hospital until the appeal process concludes. The South Carolina Court of Appeals has requested further clarifications from Barnette and Wilson regarding their appeal by June 9. This case continues to linger in the public eye as residents express their concerns and await further developments.

In summary, Representative Bill Taylor has calmed immediate fears regarding Douglas’s relocation to an elder care facility by confirming he will remain under hospital care until the appellate process is complete. However, the ongoing legal proceedings and the fate of Douglas, along with the community’s desire for assurance regarding safety, are still very much at the forefront of Aiken County’s public dialogue.

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