A man who police say admitted to killing his mother in
November because he was “sick and tired of living with her” was found mentally competent
to stand trial Friday in Howard Superior Court 4.
Mental evaluations by two physicians determined Ronald Calvert, 50, is competent to stand trial in the November slaying of his mother, Joyce Philapy, 67.
A trial date has not been set, but is expected to be set for August or September, Howard County Prosecutor Mark McCann said.
Police found the woman dead Nov. 30 inside a mobile home trailer she shared with Calvert at Stoney Creek Mobile Home Community, 1500 W. Markland Ave.
Calvert’s attorney, Rodney Shrock, filed the motion for psychiatric evaluation in January. The court then appointed Dr. Paul J. Roberts of Indiana Neuropsychological Services LLC, and George Parker, M.D., of the Indiana University Department of Psychiatry, to conduct the evaluations.
Calvert faces charges of murder and resisting law enforcement.
Police initially arrested Calvert a few miles north of his trailer park on a resisting law enforcement charge after he was seen trying to get into another person’s car, according to police.
When questioned at the jail, police said, Calvert admitted to the killing. After the interview, police went to the trailer and found Philapy’s body on the floor.
An autopsy showed Philapy died of blunt force trauma to the head and chest.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Calvert told Detective Scott Purtee that he had gotten into an argument with his mother earlier that day. He stated he grabbed her by the hair and threw her to the floor and punched her “like a man,” according to the report.
Calvert further said he kicked her in the head and legs, then retrieved a butcher knife from the kitchen counter and stabbed her one to two times in the stomach and legs, reports show. He also said he tried to cut her throat, but thought he missed.
When asked why he did this to his mother, Calvert responded, “he was sick of Philapy and tired of living with her,” the probable cause stated.
If convicted on the murder charge, Calvert could face up to 65 years in prison.
• Mike Fletcher, Tribune crime reporter, may be reached at 765-454-8565 or via e-mail at mike.fletcher@kokomotribune.com
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