Accused wife killer Honaker to be transferred to hospital for evaluation

Staff report

WARREN

A Trumbull County judge has ordered Royce Honaker to be admitted to a state psychiatric hospital to be evaluated for mental competency to stand trial in the murder of his wife, Donna, last July.

Honaker, 60, who lived on Countyline Turnpike Road in Southington, and his attorneys, as well as prosecutors, appeared before Judge Andrew Logan of common pleas court Tuesday.

They agreed with the information provided by Thomas G. Gazley, with the Forensic Diagnostic Center in Austintown, that Honaker understands the role of the parties in his case and the process involved in a criminal trial.

But they also agreed that Honaker has “undiagnosed concerns” and refuses to cooperate with Gazley’s attempts to fully evaluate him.

At this time, Honaker is not competent to stand trial, so he’ll be transferred from the county jail to a state mental-health facility for further evaluation, Judge Logan said.

Honaker called 911 July 31 to say he had just killed his wife Donna, 58, at their home.

He was standing near the garage when county deputy sheriffs arrived and repeated the statement, police said.

Donna Honaker was found dead in the house of a gunshot wound.