Ryan King appears before Manitowoc County court via Zoom, January 9, 2024. (Manitowoc Co. court/Zoom)
MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A psychiatric report does not support a plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect for a stabbing suspect, but the defense is keeping that plea – at least for now.
Ryan King, 37, is charged with attempted homicide and two counts of false imprisonment for the May 25 incident.
In court Tuesday, defense attorney Amber Gratz asked for more time to discuss the case with her client and prosecutors, so a March 6 status conference was set.
The not guilty by reason of mental disease plea means the defense is arguing King suffered from a psychiatric condition which prohibited him from discerning right from wrong. If the trial proceeds with that, the jury would first determine if King is guilty of the charges. If that happens, the second phase of the trial would have the jury determining if he should be held responsible for his actions – which could result in a prison term – or if isn’t culpable because of a mental disease – which would result in commitment to a secure psychiatric facility.
According to a probable cause statement by the police, officers were called to a residence on S. 20th Street shortly after midnight by a woman who said her nephew, King, stabbed her son, Nicholas Beaupre, 36.
After being taken to the hospital, the Beaupre said the King “began saying something about Satan and King began stabbing Beaupre. He and King were not arguing or fighting when King began stabbing him,” the report states.
King told police he was upset with Beaupre for insulting him, but denied grabbing a knife or stabbing him.
Many details of the extent of the injuries are redacted from the report, but at a previous hearing, Assistant District Attorney Anthony Lambrecht said Beaupre was stabbed at least five times and suffered a collapsed lung.
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