Southern MN Man Charged with Killing Father Found Incompetent
Le Center, MN (KROC-AM News) - A southern Minnesota man charged with murdering his father and then setting fire to their home has been found to be incompetent to stand trial.
The decision handed down Friday by a judge in Le Sueur County means 25-year-old Hardy Wills-Traxler will be civilly committed to a mental health facility to undergo treatment until it is determined he is competent for prosecution. Wills-Traxler is charged with second-degree murder and first-degree arson.
He was arrested on January 24 after Le Sueur County deputies responded to a report of a fire at a rural residence just northeast of Le Center. A man living in the home, identified as 64-year-old Bruce Traxler, was found dead at the scene.
His son was later arrested in Blue Earth County following a traffic stop by the Sheriff's deputy. The criminal complaint says Wills-Traxler earlier had contact with a snowplow driver and a group of snowmobilers and made comments about killing his father.
He is scheduled to return to court in October for a review hearing concerning his competency.
News Update: Former Rochester Man's Murder in St. Paul Remains Unsolved
HAVE YOU SEEN ME? 32 Kids Missing From Minnesota
More From KRFO-FM
