Attorneys were expected in federal court this morning to discuss whether the Salt Lake woman charged with kidnapping and drowning her granddaughter needs a mental competency evaluation.
The mental state of Kelley Jean Lodmell, who has been described by her family as a paranoid schizophrenic, could be a central issue in both state and federal cases pending against the 38-year-old grandmother. A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City indicted Lodmell Wednesday on one count of kidnapping for snatching her 19-month-old granddaughter Acacia Patience Bishop from her great-grandparents' home in Murray and driving her to Idaho Falls the evening of May 25.
The next day, Lodmell told investigators, she jumped into the Snake River in a botched murder-suicide attempt, court records state. State prosecutors in Idaho charged Lodmell with first-degree kidnapping and murder, but agreed to have Lodmell transferred to federal custody so she could first face federal charges and undergo a mental competency evaluation. Lodmell was transported Thursday from Idaho Falls to Salt Lake City.
"Clearly there are mental issues in this case," assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Lambert said following a brief arraignment Thursday afternoon in U.S. District Court.
Wearing a peach shirt with large black letters across the front that read "What part of NO don't you understand," Lodmell pleaded not guilty to the federal kidnapping charge against her.
U.S. Magistrate Samuel Alba appointed Fred Metos as Lodmell's public defender on the federal kidnapping charge after confirming she'd been out of work since January.
"I expect I'm going to coordinate with the attorneys in Idaho and work out a joint defense as best we can between the two jurisdictions," Metos said outside federal court.
Alba also set a nine-day trial to begin Sept. 2 It remained unclear if a potential competency evaluation could push that date back.
Alba ordered Lodmell be held in federal custody in Salt Lake City. She agreed but requested to be housed in the Weber County Jail or Davis County Jail.
If a mental competency evaluation is ordered, Lodmell would be transferred to a federal facility for an in-patient exam that would last between 30 and 60 days, said Barbara Bearnson, assistant U.S. attorney for Utah. Lodmell would receive complete physical, psychological and psychiatric exams from experts who would then determine if she's competent to stand trial.
Meanwhile, police in Idaho Falls have yet to find the body of Lodmell's granddaughter. Acacia's parents have remained in town conducting their own search for the girl, who they believe is in the custody of someone in Idaho Falls who knew Lodmell.
E-mail: djensen@desnews.com