Convicted murderer Roberto Arguelles says he is tired of waiting for permission to die.
After learning this morning in 3rd District Court that his desire to be put to death is on hold until a third and final competency evaluation is completed by a neuropsychologist, Arguelles was beside himself.
"I'm tired of waiting," Arguelles told Judge David Young. "I'm having a lot of problems at the prison. A lot of people are trying to tell me I don't want the death penalty."
The Utah Supreme Court ordered that Arguelles undergo a competency evaluation after he tried to hang himself with a laundry bag in his cell at the Utah State Prison on Aug. 12, 1998.
The serial killer was sentenced to death June 20, 1997, after he confessed to the brutal murders of four Salt Lake County women.
Arguelles has repeatedly stated that he wants to die for his crimes and will fight any effort to appeal his death sentences.
"He's very frustrated," said Jim Bradshaw, Arguelles' court-appointed attorney. "He has his own ideas of what he thinks should happen in this case, and he wants it to happen quickly."
As it stands, Arguelles will have to wait for at least two more weeks. One doctor's competency report has been finalized, indicating Arguelles is competent, said Creighton Horton of the Attorney General's Office.
A second preliminary report also indicates Arguelles is competent. That report was expected to be finalized sometime today, Horton said.
The third report from the neuropsychologist should be finalized after an April 19 interview with Arguelles, Horton said.
Arguelles will be back in court May 19 for another competency hearing. The mandatory Supreme Court appeal of Arguelles' case has been on hold since Arguelles tried to kill himself. Prosecutors wanted to make sure the suicide attempt didn't leave Arguelles with any diminished capacities.
"Right now it's best to proceed cautiously and make sure all i's are dotted, all t's are crossed before we rush headlong into this," said deputy district attorney Richard Hamp.
Even if all three doctors find Arguelles competent, Horton said it's unclear how long the mandatory appeal process could take.
Young today apologized to Arguelles for the delay but denied Arguelles' request to sign an order moving the convicted killer back to the death row program of the Utah State Prison.
"It's not the court's desire nor its jurisdiction to interfere with the administration decisions that are made within the prison," Young said.
Arguelles was moved out of the program on Feb. 7 for several disciplinary reasons, including his attempted suicide, said Department of Corrections spokesman Jack Ford.
Death row inmates must have no write-ups for one year before being allowed back in the program, Ford said. A death row inmate is let out of his cell for three hours a day with two other inmates, but Arguelles is currently let out for just one hour and 15 minutes a day, five days a week, by himself, Ford said.
"He's looking at maybe six months before he can get back into the death row program," Ford said.