Fairfield stabbing death: Girlfriend’s competency questioned

Attorneys for a woman accused of killing her boyfriend at a Fairfield residence are questioning her competency to stand trial.

Stephanie Gabbard, 33, was indicted last week for murder after David Mitchell, 41, was found dead Sept. 4 in an apartment on Eastgate Drive that he shared with Gabbard.

FIRST REPORT: Fairfield woman allegedly stabbed boyfriend to death

Butler County Judge Michael Oster set bond at $1 million for Gabbard during arraignment on Monday.

Defense attorneys Greg Beane and Gerald Wirsch filed a motion Tuesday requesting Gabbard be evaluated to determine her competency to stand trial. The attorneys gave no reason for the request.

Gabbard is scheduled to be back in court Oct. 8, when the judge is likely to rule on the competency evaluation request.

MORE: Fairfield woman indicted on murder charge in boyfriend’s death

Officers were dispatched at 5:15 p.m. Sept. 4 for a well-being check requested by Gabbard’s friend, who told dispatchers the woman had called him crying and was “hysterical.”

He also told the dispatcher that Gabbard had “been in and out of abusive relationships.”

Police said there had been no previous calls for service at the apartment involving Gabbard and Mitchell.

According to court records in Hamilton County and Butler County, Gabbard has previously been charged and convicted of various offenses, including theft. She was found guilty in September 2017 on a burglary/trespass charge in Hamilton County and was found guilty in December 2007 on a theft charge in Fairfield.

This article contains previous reporting by staff writer Michael D. Pitman.

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