Teen accused of random stabbing deemed not competent

STAMFORD — A Guilford teen accused of stabbing a woman outside a Westport salon last year is not competent to stand trial at the moment, according to a recent evaluation conducted by a team of mental health professionals that included a psychiatrist and a psychologist.

Michael Genovese, a licensed social worker for the state, broke down the most recent competency evaluation of 19-year-old Ellis Tibere during a pretrial hearing held Thursday morning.

Tibere, while able to display a “solid factual understanding” of court proceedings, “does not have a rational understanding of his legal situation,” Genovese said. “He has rigid false beliefs that are integrated into his legal situation, delusional and illogical thinking, and in that respect it affects his rational understanding of how he should proceed in his case.”

The competency evaluation, which took place July 27, was the third such evaluation for Tibere. The 19year-old Guilford High School graduate was deemed competent to assist in his own defense during the prior two evaluations.

Tibere faces charges attempted murder, firstdegree assault and possession of a deadly weapon in connection with the Westport stabbing.

According to his arrest affidavit, on Jan. 6, 2020, Tibere hung around the parking lot of a plaza on Post Road East for hours apparently waiting for a random woman to appear. Tibere then put on a black mask, approached a Greenwich woman in her car, opened the car door and stabbed her, the affidavit said.

Tibere also faces charges of violation of conditions of release and first-degree criminal mischief after he allegedly removed his GPS monitor and left his family’s Guilford property where he had been on house arrest after posting a $1 million bond in May 2020.

While the evaluation team found Tibere not competent to stand trial, they did say they believe he can be restored to competency through treatment.

Genovese recommended Tibere be committed to Whiting Forensic Hospital for 60 days so that he could be treated by mental health professionals.

“We believe there is a substantial probability he can be restored,” Genovese told the court Thursday.

Judge Gary White, Assistant State’s Attorney Joseph Valdes and Tibere’s attorney John R. Gulash all agreed on the recommendation.

If, after the 60-day commitment, Tibere is still not found to be competent, he would likely be reordered to undergo further treatment, and then again be evaluated.

Tibere is next scheduled to appear on Oct. 7, when the court will re-evaluate his competency status.