A judge ordered a competency evaluation Wednesday for Michael Murrah, the Vancouver man accused of fatally stabbing his estranged wife in November while their child was in the house.
A hearing is scheduled for Dec. 29 to review the evaluation. His trial date is on hold in the meantime.
Murrah, 45, previously pleaded not guilty in Clark County Superior Court to first-degree domestic violence murder. He is being held on $2 million bail.
Vancouver police responded around 10:30 a.m. Nov. 7 to the 2400 block of F Street in the Arnada neighborhood after a neighbor called 911 to report Monica “Star” Murrah, 45, had been stabbed. Police found Michael Murrah outside of the house with what appeared to be blood on his hands and a knife, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Star Murrah was found inside with multiple stab wounds to her upper torso. She was taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center where she died from her injuries.
Michael Murrah allegedly told police he stabbed someone called Star Beast “to fulfill a prophecy.” In another police interview, officers said he admitted to driving to Star Murrah’s house with a knife and a Bible, court records state.
A cellphone belonging to Michael Murrah was found Nov. 8 in the mailbox of a court commissioner who presided over the couple’s domestic violence protection order case and was initially assigned to their divorce case, according to court records.
The judicial assistant who collected the mail and opened the package containing the cellphone wrote that the last messages exchanged between Michael and Star Murrah were about vaccinating their son, court records state.
