EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. — A man accused of fatally shooting a Southern Baptist pastor inside an Illinois church in March has been found unfit to stand trial.
The decision handed down Oct. 20 followed a mental evaluation of Terry Sedlacek, of Troy, Ill. He is accused of walking into First Baptist Church, Maryville, Ill., during a worship service March 8 and gunning down Pastor Fred Winters in the middle of his sermon.
According to local media, Madison County Circuit Judge Richard Tognarelli signed an order agreeing with a court-ordered psychologist that Sedlacek, 27, is schizophrenic and unlikely to be able to understand the legal proceedings or assist in his defense.
Sedlacek will be evaluated within 30 days to determine if treatment will allow him to stand trial within a year.
First, Maryville, released a statement supporting the legal process. “One of the benefits and blessings to our country is our legal system, the foundations it was built upon and the conviction that truth will prevail,” the statement said. “We leave decisions, like the one of today, in its hands. We are not in a position to make determinations like the court is able. Our responsibility is to pray for those who make these decisions and for God to bring to light any and everything pertaining to the truth of what happened.”
Still, the congregation’s statement continued, “Days like today can cause emotions to resurface reminding us of the unimaginable events that occurred March 8.”
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