BENTON COUNTY, Wash. – The man the prosecutor’s office says shot two people at Fred Meyer two years ago in Richland was found not guilty Monday by reason of insanity.
Benton County Prosecutor Eric Eisinger said it wasn’t the result he was expecting.
“It’s hard to comprehend that somebody could be living in this alternate reality and be acting under deep delusions,” said Eisinger. “And at the same time, be acting in a logical way.”
On Feb. 14, 2023, Aaron Kelly was deemed competent to stand trial. That means he was able to understand the charges being given to him according to Eisinger.
Eisinger said sanity is a different determination based on the state of mind of the person during the crime. That determination is made by forensic psychologists.
Wendi Wachsmuth, a clinical psychologist brought on to the case by the prosecution, agreed with the determination of other experts, deciding Kelly was insane at the time of the crime.
Eisinger said without an expert statement stating Kelly was not insane the prosecution was unable to go to a full-on trial.
One of Kelly’s defense attorneys, Karla Kane, said the result of this case is just. She also said it was frustrating to hear some of the negative comments from the community.
“You know, he’s a really good person who had, you know, a schizophrenic break and obviously did something terrible and horrible,” said Kane. “And I understand their pain doesn’t allow them to see that.”
In court Monday Justin Krumbaugh’s family disagreed.
“A mother should never have to bury a child,” said Krumbaugh’s mother. “It would be hard enough if Justin had had an illness or an accident, but to be taken by murder by someone he didn’t even know is abhorrent.”
Eisinger, Kane and Wachsmuth all said this plea of not guilty by reason of insanity doesn’t mean he’s going to be out in the community.
The plea requires Kelly to be locked up in Eastern State Hospital where he is currently committed for life, according to Eisinger, Kane and Wachsmuth.
“A finding of not guilty by reason of insanity and then commitment to the state hospital under that statute is not a get out of jail free card,” said Wachsmuth.
Kelly can request more freedom at the state hospital, something Eisinger said the prosecutor’s office would be notified of and something the office would challenge.
