A Fort Smith man accused in the stabbing death of his wife and unborn child outside the city’s police department has been ruled incompetent to stand trial.
James Herring, 34, underwent a mental evaluation, according to papers filed in the Sebastian County Circuit Clerk’s Office.
As a result of that evaluation, circuit judge James Cox ordered Herring undergo further evaluation, care, and treatment by the Arkansas Department of Human Services Tuesday.
His order stipulates that their treatment and evaluation not exceed 10 months before they report back to the court.
Herring is accused of stabbing his pregnant wife near the Fort Smith Courts Building on May 15. The woman ran into the police department lobby seeking help and collapsed. She and her unborn baby later died.
