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Judge to decide whether former Southington man should be forced to take psychiatric meds
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
A judge in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court will decide in about a week whether to authorize a psychiatrist at a state mental hospital to force Royce Honaker to take two anti-psychotic medications.
Judge Andrew Logan found Honaker, 65, not guilty by reason of insanity in 2015 in the 2012 killing of his wife, Donna, at their Southington Township home.
The judge heard testimony Monday from two doctors, a social worker and a nurse at Heartland Behavioral Healthcare, where Honaker is institutionalized, regarding Honaker’s refusal to take the medications.
Dr. Samina Zadai testified that Honaker suffers from schizophrenia and psychosis that started late in life. She’s been his treating physician for six months.
She said she wants Honaker to take two anti-psychotic medications. Honaker agreed to take a small dose, but Dr. Zadai said she doesn’t believe that amount will do any good. She would like to use a dose about five to six times as high.
Zadai said Honaker has refused to take any anti-psychotic medications since June, and his mental condition is “substantially worse.”
She added, “He’s extremely paranoid” and suspicious. He also spends much of his time by himself.”
When Chris Becker, assistant county prosecutor, asked Honaker whether he suffers from any psychological probems, Honaker said “no.”
Honaker said the reason he doesn’t want to take the medications is because they cause side effects such as dizziness, headaches and soreness.
Linda Young, a social worker at Heartland, testified that Honaker does not appear to be a threat to himself or anyone else at the facility.