The court case for the Toledo man accused of violently murdering two Winlock residents in February is on hold until at least June 26 after a competency evaluation found he lacked the capacity to understand his case and participate in his own defense.
Robert Eugene Chandler, 35, was charged Monday, March 10, in Lewis County Superior Court with two counts of first-degree aggravated murder.
A Lewis County Superior Court judge signed an order Friday, March 14, ordering a competency evaluation for Chandler, finding “that there is a genuine doubt as to the defendant’s competency based on the facts provided by counsel, judicial colloquy, and/or direct observation,” according to previous Chronicle reporting.
The results of that evaluation, which were filed in Lewis County Superior Court on March 31, found that “Mr. Chandler currently lacks the capacity to understand the nature of the proceedings against him and lacks the capacity to assist in his own defense, due to a mental disease.”
The state Department of Health and Social Services psychologist and forensic evaluator who completed Chandler’s evaluation, Dr. Sarah A. Henry, specifically diagnosed Chandler with “unspecified schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder,” in addition to “methamphetamine use disorder” and “inhalant use disorder,” according to the evaluation report.
Henry acknowledged in her evaluation that “individuals may be motivated to exaggerate or fabricate mental health symptoms or cognitive defects when faced with legal challenges,” but noted that she had “no concerns related to feigned and/or exaggerated impairment” in Chandler’s case.
She specifically noted that the “complexity, consistently and noted acuity of his presentation” alleviated any concerns about feigned or exaggerated impairment.
Henry did note that Chandler exhibited “some guardedness about his presentation … as he said more than once that he did not want to be perceived as ‘crazy,’” according to the evaluation.
When asked specifically about his understanding of the case against him, Chandler "expressly denied having committed the alleged offenses” and “subsequently offered confusing, illogical beliefs related to his case and the reason for his arrest,” Henry stated in the evaluation report.
Chandler reportedly said he was being “targeted by police who previously ‘suffocated’ him” and claimed he could “control the outcome” of his case because he could “cause cancer cells to grow in his body,” which he said would kill him and “trigger the Rapture to begin,” according to the report.
“Mr. Chandler’s thinking, as inferred from his speech, often was too digressive and confusing to fully capture everything he said related to his illogical case-related beliefs. Attempts to clarify were often unsuccessful as well,” Henry stated in the evaluation report.
Henry noted that Chandler previously underwent 45 days of competency restoration treatment in January 2022, during which he reacted positively to psychotropic medication and was restored to competency.
He was not taking psychotropic medication at the time of his evaluation “seemingly due to impaired insight and judgement," according to the evaluation report. She did note that she had “significant concerns related to Mr. Chandler’s willingness to accept psychotropic medication voluntarily,” and noted his treatment may need to include an order authorizing the involuntary administration of medication.
If treated with medication and therapy during his competency restoration treatment, Henry stated in the evaluation report that “there appears to be a reasonable expectation” that he will become mentally able to proceed with his case.
Chandler was still in custody at the Lewis County Jail on a no-bail hold as of Thursday afternoon, but he could be transferred to a secure state Department of Social and Health Services facility to undergo treatment.
A competency review hearing is scheduled for 8:40 a.m. on June 26.
An arraignment hearing will be scheduled once he has undergone competency restoration treatment and is found competent enough to proceed with his case.
Double homicide
Chandler was arrested March 5 for an unrelated Department of Corrections violation and has been in custody at the Lewis County Jail since that date, according to previous Chronicle reporting.
Chandler faces two counts of first-degree aggravated murder for allegedly murdering Kimberly R. Torres, 51, and Donald J. Piccolo, 61, at their residence in the 400 block of Byham Road in Winlock with a pair of swords on Feb. 4 after he was dropped off at the home to shower, as he did there several times a week.
Their bodies were found after a citizen requested a welfare check on Feb. 25, according to previous Chronicle reporting.
Witnesses reported that Chandler was seen “acting strangely” between Feb. 7 and Feb. 27, with one witness reporting Chandler was “talking to people who were not there, yelling and throwing items” and “whipping his shirt and backpack onto a rock” along the Cowlitz River on Feb. 7. Another witness reported Chandler “acting violently” and spending “multiple hours yelling at trees” on Feb. 27.
“Several people noted that Chandler would huff gas canisters and would become violent after doing so,” according to court documents.
Chandler’s felony history includes a 2021 conviction for attempted residential burglary, domestic violence; convictions for third-degree assault from 2021 and 2009; a 2020 conviction for escape from community custody; and a 2009 conviction for second-degree malicious mischief.
Misdemeanor convictions on his record include a 2024 domestic violence protection order violation, a 2024 trespassing conviction, a 2020 harassment conviction, and multiple convictions for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and fourth-degree assault between 2008 and 2021.
