Mankato Man Ruled Incompetent to Stand Trial For Killing Father
Mankato, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Mankato area man accused of murdering his father in late April has been found incompetent to stand trial.
A Blue Earth County Judge issued the ruling earlier this week in the case of 24-year-old Travis Earle. He is facing two counts of second-degree murder for the stabbing death of 59-year-old Stephen Earle inside the victim's home in the community on the outskirts of Mankato.
Blue Earth County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to the residence on the morning of April 27 after the father called 911 and reported his adult son had a knife and was becoming violent. When the call was disconnected, the dispatcher called back and heard over the phone the sounds of the struggle and screaming.
The criminal complaint states that the first law officer to arrive at the home found Travis Earle outside and when he spoke with him, Earle claimed his father came at him with a knife and he acted in self-defense. The victim, who was still conscious when deputies found him inside the house, told the officers he grabbed a knife to protect himself, but his son snatched it away from him and stabbed him while he was on the phone with a 911 dispatcher.
Stephen Earle was airlifted to Rochester for treatment at St. Mary's Hospital, but he died while undergoing emergency surgery hours later.
Travis Earle currently remains in custody in the Blue Earth County Jail with his conditional bail set at $1 million.