Dustin Lee Zapel, accused of stabbing and killing two men who lived in his apartment complex, will undergo a mental competency evaluation before further legal proceedings.
In a court hearing Friday morning, Zapel’s attorney, Jeff Sowder, told the court that Zapel has a long history of treatment at Western State Hospital, an inpatient psychiatric hospital in Lakewood.
Clark County Superior Court Judge John Fairgrieve granted the evaluation and scheduled a review for Sept. 12.
Zapel is accused of killing 42-year-old Thomas West and 55-year-old James Olsen, two men who reportedly lived with him at the Central Park Place Apartments. He is also accused of attempting to stab a third man, David Garner, 51.
Zapel appeared in court last week on suspicion of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder.
In an interview with detectives, Zapel said he was lying in bed when he decided to kill people, according to the affidavit. He said he went outside, found West and stabbed him in the head and chest and bit him in the head. He then repeatedly stabbed “the other guy,” whose name he didn’t know, he said, in the stomach, court documents said.
Lori Olsen, James Olsen’s ex-wife, said that James was a veteran who served 20 years in the U.S. Navy and volunteered his time at the VA and other veteran causes. He had two children and three grandchildren.
“He had a big heart and always tried to help his fellow veteran,” she said. “His family is all shocked and saddened from the nature of his death.”
Family and friends of West said that he was an avid member of Revival Tabernacle Ministries in Vancouver and helped the pastor by mowing and weeding his lawn.
“He is a really kind spirit,” the West family said in a statement to The Columbian. “He really loved the Lord and had a very sweet disposition. He would do anything for anybody.”
