For the second time, an accused murderer who appeared oblivious to his surroundings during two Bartholomew Circuit Court hearings has been determined to be mentally incompetent to stand trial.
But this time, Corbin W. Hippensteel might find himself committed to a mental health facility indefinitely.
Hippensteel, 31, is charged with the Nov. 27, 2023 shooting death of Alejandro Flores. The 54-year-old victim died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head at 2630 Joseph Cox Court, where the homeless Hippensteel had been staying with his grandfather, according to court records.
There was no argument between Hippensteel and Flores prior to the shooting, but the defendant has a history of mental illness, according to a probable cause affidavit. The grandfather, Danny W. Sanders, told investigators his grandson had also consumed a large amount of alcohol over a two-day period.
When brought before Judge Kelly Benjamin for a Dec. 4, 2023 initial hearing, Hippensteel was largely silent and unresponsive. A deputy had to pull up the defendant by the arm, walk him to the defense table and assist with lowering him into his seat.
After the defendant failed to respond to most questions, Benjamin postponed the hearing for four days.
On Dec. 8, Hippensteel initially appeared more lucid as he walked ahead of his guards into the courtroom and chuckled at a comment another defendant had whispered to him.
But the moment public defender Joseph Villanueva approached him, Hippensteel became unresponsive and appeared to fall asleep in his chair.
On Dec. 20, the court ordered that Hippensteel be examined by two mental health professionals: psychiatrist George Parker and psychologist Stephanie Callaway, to determine if he is competent to stand trial.
After receiving the evaluations from Park and Callaway, Judge Benjamin ordered on March 12, 2024 that Hippensteel be sent to the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction to begin competency restoration efforts.
By state law, those efforts are to continue for up to six months. But if there is still no improvement after that time, the defendant may be indefinitely committed to a mental health facility.
After Villanueva gave notice on Aug. 5 that he was going to use an insanity defense, state law dictated the defendant had to be reevaluated to determine if he was incapable of distinguishing right from wrong at the time of the crime. Parker and Callaway were asked to evaluate him a second time.
On Nov.8, Judge Benjamin determined that Hippensteel remains incompetent to stand trial. He was committed to the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction. No other hearings regarding the case have been scheduled at this time.
