(Fremont County, WY) – Dubois man Patrick Lee Rose, 53, has officially been transferred to the Wyoming State Hospital (WHS), in an effort to determine whether his mental state can be “restored to competency” to proceed with sentencing.
Rose faces an aggravated assault and battery charge after attacking and blinding Elaine Tillman while both were receiving treatment at SageWest Health Care in Lander on November 26th, 2020.
During the attack, Tillman’s eye was gouged out and she sustained severe injuries to her body and the other eye. She was eventually taken to a Utah hospital for treatment, but later died on December 9th.
The Fremont County Prosecutors have received the medical examiner’s report, but due to the sensitive nature of the case, it cannot be reported for certain that Tillman’s death was officially caused by the injuries sustained during the attack.
According to court documents, after a December 17th hearing was held to determine Rose’s “fitness to proceed,” WHS conducted their own “Competency to Proceed Evaluation” as well, which the Court received on February 22nd.
The evaluator found that Rose was indeed not competent to proceed, and at the March 5th hearing to address the matter, both counsel for the state and defendant agreed.
At this point, the Court then must determine, with further medical evaluations, whether or not Rose could be “restored to competency” in order to proceed with a sentencing. Because of the need for this determination, it was decided that continuing to house Rose at the Fremont County Detention Center, was “not a viable option.”
Another hearing was held March 17th addressing how the case would proceed. While WHS determined that the defendant was “not fit to proceed,” the Hospital evaluation was “not definitive that the defendant would not regain competency.” Meaning, the potentiality for competency would necessitate further treatment and evaluation by WHS.
However, in a March 19th memo it was revealed that WHS was initially unable to house Rose due to capacity issues. It was then stated in the memo that an “Order to Show Cause” would be issued to WHS to explain in detail their inability to house Rose.
The memo went on to state:
“While the WSH may present its’ inability to house defendant at its’ facility in Evanston or elsewhere, as economic, some things transcend economics and if money is the issue, Mr. Rose’s plight trumps the money issue. The State of Wyoming has a legal obligation to provide the services needed for individuals in Mr. Rose’s situation. Mr. Rose has been incarcerated since November 28th, 2020. The Fremont County Detention Center is not an appropriate holding facility for him.”
Within a few weeks time, WHS was able make accommodations for Rose, and an Order For Transfer document was filed.
Upon his admittance to WHS facilities, Rose will then undergo the further evaluations mentioned by WHS to ascertain his “competency to proceed.”
According to court documents, “If the state makes a definitive finding that the defendant cannot be restored to competency, then the State must proceed under Title 25 to have the defendant committed or the court will be forced to release the defendant.”
Once again, due to the sensitive nature of the case and the Title 25 restrictions, further details are sparse at this point.
County 10 will provide more details on the case as they become available, which can be found here.