Lenyra Theophile, one of the four teenagers accused of carjacking and murdering Linda Frickey, was deemed incompetent to stand trial.
On October 15, 2021, four teenagers were accused of carjacking and murdering 72-year-old Linda Frickey in Mid-City, New Orleans. Lenyra Theophile was one of them.
They were all charged as adults with second-degree murder, but Theophile was later deemed incompetent to stand trial due to her intellectual limitations.
Lenyra Theophile, 16 Year Old Teen Accused Of Linda Frickey Death
On March 21, 2022, the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) released a surveillance video that showed four individuals allegedly involved in the carjacking and murder of 72-year-old Linda Frickey.
The footage led to the arrest of four teenagers, one of whom is Lenyra Theophile, who was 16 years old at the time of her arrest. Frickey’s vehicle was stolen, and she was dragged from the car for a city block in Mid-City, New Orleans.
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She sustained fatal injuries and died in the hospital shortly after the incident. The carjacking occurred nearly a year ago, and the trial of the three other teenagers charged with second-degree murder in the case is scheduled for April 3, 2023.
Theophile, on the other hand, has been deemed not competent to stand trial. Two psychiatrists who examined her testified that she did not understand court proceedings and showed signs of intellectual limitations.
As a result, Criminal District Court Judge Kimya Holmes ordered Theophile to a mental health facility for 60 days to restore her to competency.
Lenyra Theophile Arrest And Charges
On October 15, 2021, four teenagers were accused of carjacking and murdering Linda Frickey, a 72-year-old woman from Mid-City, New Orleans. The teenagers were identified as Lenyra Theophile, John Honore, Briniyah Baker, and Mar’Qel Curtis.
Frickey’s car was stolen and dragged from it for a city block, leading to her death. The incident sparked outrage in the community, and the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) launched an investigation.
Surveillance footage captured the four teenagers allegedly involved in the crime. The NOPD released the footage to the public, hoping to identify the suspects.
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The community responded by providing information that led to the arrest of the four teenagers. The teenagers were charged as adults with second-degree murder, which carries a mandatory life sentence without parole.
Each of them pleaded not guilty to the charge. They were held on $1 million bail each and remained in custody awaiting trial. The trial was scheduled for April 3, 2022.
However, a court-appointed psychiatrist diagnosed Theophile as not competent to stand trial. The diagnosis led Criminal District Court Judge Kimya Holmes to order Theophile to a mental-health facility for treatment to restore her to competency.
Two psychiatrists testified that Theophile lacked an understanding of court proceedings and showed signs of intellectual limitations that have rendered her incapable, without restoration, of aiding her attorney in her defense.
Cecilia Webb, M.D., testified that she and another psychiatrist had difficulty engaging with Theophile during a 45-minute initial exam. The teenager was both reluctant to speak and unable to answer their questions.
Records from the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center also showed her suffering from depressive symptoms. Prosecutors argued that Lenyra didn’t suffer from intellectual abilities but refused to answer the psychiatrists’ questions to delay her trial.
On Monday, March 21, 2022, Judge Holmes conceded that it was a close call in determining Theophile’s ability to stand trial. But ultimately, she ordered the teenager to an initial 60-day restoration treatment.
The judge ruled that the other three teenagers charged in Frickey’s slaying would still be tried on April 3 as planned. If convicted, the teenagers face life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
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