Competency exam ordered in killing
Hales Corners man charged in mom’s death
A court commissioner ordered a competency exam Friday for a 40year-old Hales Corners man with a history of mental illness who has been charged with killing his mother.
Robert G. Rozewicz, 40, faces charges of first-degree intentional homicide in his mother’s death. His mother, Julie Rozewicz, 68, hadbeen missing for days before her body was discovered at a Muskego landfill March 20.
Authorities began investigating after Rozewicz reported his mother missing from the home they shared in the 6000 block of S. 116th St.
Police traced his mother’s cellphone, which indicated it was at the landfill, and they found bloodstains in the house.
When questioned by detectives, Rozewicz said he felt his mother was affecting his life, so he suffocated and then stabbed her before placing he rina garbage can in the garage, which he moved to the curb, according to a criminal complaint.
At Friday’ s hearing, Rozewicz’s attorneys requested a mental health examination to determine his competency.
“We have belief that Mr. Rozewicz is unable to assist in his defense or understand the proceedings,” attorney Gabriela Leija said.
Milwaukee County Circuit Court Commissioner Barry Phillips ordered the exam, and the doctor’s report is due back April 20. Rozewicz remained in Milwaukee County Jail on $250,000 bail.
Rozewicz was hospitalized five times at the Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex between 2001 and 2003, and he also required psychiatric evaluation 11 times from various crisis services between 1994 and 2015, according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel review of court records.
Rozewicz has a pending fleeing case — his only prior criminal charge — and was at first found incompetent to proceed in August. A judge ordered that he be treated at a state mental hospital. He regained competency with treatment and entered a plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect in December. His next court date in that case is scheduled for April.