Competency Hearing Set for Stepfather Accused of Killing Celina Cass

A hearing is planned for next month on whether a New Hampshire man accused of killing his 11-year-old stepdaughter five years ago is mentally competent to stand trial.

The Caledonian Record reports the competency hearing for 52-year-old Wendell Noyes is scheduled for Aug. 11 in Colebrook.

Noyes is accused of killing 11-year-old Celina Cass by submerging her body in the Connecticut River, where it was found six days after she was reported missing in July 2011. Her disappearance led to an intense search by federal, state and local law enforcement in the North Country town of Stewartstown, a mile from the Canadian border.

Noyes is charged with second-degree murder.

His public defender, Marcie Hornick, has said Noyes' competency must be determined before a probable cause hearing can be scheduled.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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