TUSCALOOSA, AL — A Tuscaloosa County grand jury has indicted the man responsible for killing DCH Health System nurse Ada Doss last month during what police believe was an attempted robbery.
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Court documents obtained by Patch show that 41-year-old Matthew James Taylor was indicted Wednesday on charges of capital murder, first-degree robbery and possession of a firearm by a person of unsound mind.
The indictment also charges Taylor with first-degree robbery in connection with an alleged robbery of another woman in the minutes before he killed Doss.
Doss, 27, was fatally shot May 12 during a shift change in a parking lot at DCH Regional Medical Center in what investigators have described as a random act of violence as Taylor attempted to steal Doss' vehicle.
As Patch previously reported, the indictment comes as Taylor's defense attorneys have raised questions to the court about his competency to stand trial and his mental state at the time of the shooting.
In a petition filed June 3, defense attorney Hunter Brown asked the court to order a forensic psychiatric evaluation, citing what he described as a lengthy history of mental illness.
The filing states Taylor was diagnosed with bipolar disorder with schizoaffective disorder at age 18 and has reportedly been admitted to North Harbor Crisis Stabilization Unit more than 30 times, along with multiple stays at other inpatient psychiatric facilities.
Defense attorneys also wrote that Taylor remains unable to effectively communicate with counsel.
Tuscaloosa County Circuit Judge Daniel Pruet granted the request Wednesday, ordering an inpatient evaluation through the Alabama Department of Mental Health to determine both whether Taylor is competent to stand trial and his mental condition at the time of the alleged offenses.
The order states the court found reasonable grounds to question Taylor's competency and notes that the defense has indicated its intent to pursue a mental disease or defect defense.
Judge Pruet ordered Taylor to be transported from the Tuscaloosa County Jail to Tuscaloosa's Taylor Hardin Secure Medical Facility for the evaluation.
To that end, criminal proceedings have been suspended pending the completion of the mental health assessment and submission of a report to the court.
Additional court filings made Thursday indicate a bed is expected to become available at Taylor Hardin.
As Patch previously reported, the requests come less than a week after Circuit Judge Allen W. May Jr. ordered jail officials to involuntarily administer psychiatric medication to Taylor after court records detailed increasingly dangerous and erratic behavior while he was being held at the Tuscaloosa County Jail.
Those records included allegations that Taylor refused medication and food, consumed and smeared feces in his cell and required physical intervention from jail staff involving the use of Tasers and OC spray.
Taylor remains in the Tuscaloosa County Jail without bond.
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