Suspect in deadly stabbing at Redding Taco Bell found mentally competent to stand trial

REDDING, Calif. — The man accused of stabbing and killing a Redding Taco Bell employee back in March of 2022 will be back in Shasta County court after he had originally been declared mentally incompetent by his attorney.

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55-year-old Brent Ray Close confessed to, unprovoked, fatally stabbing Taco Bell employee 29-year-old Kevin James Richard Wrenne.

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According to prosecutors, when Close appeared in court for an arraignment in July of last year. following the arraignment, Close's attorney, John Carelli, told the court that Close was not mentally competent to stand trial.

The judge, Cara Beatty, then appointed two doctors to evaluate Close's mental competency before his next court date.

District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett told us after a split decision on the reports, a third evaluation was requested and broke the tie determining him to be competent to appear in court.

Bridgett explained to KRCR what the definition of being found competent is.

"At the moment they’re in court, are they competent, are they able to talk to their defense attorney, are they able to understand the proceedings, are they able to effectively help their attorney in their defense right there in that moment, doesn't have anything to do with their competence at the moment in which their crime occurred."

The criminal proceedings were put on hold when Carelli said that Close was mentally incompetent.

Now with the judge’s determination that he is competent to stand trial, they will select jury trial dates this Friday for when the proceedings will continue.