Psychiatric evaluation to be completed soon in Chicora attempted murder case
This is a preview of an article that will appear in Wednesday's Butler Eagle. Subscribe online or in print to read the full article. A months-long psychiatric evaluation of a 56-year-old Chicora man charged with attempted murder is expected to be completed later this week, according to the defendant's lawyer.Gary Ellenberger is charged with shooting Heath Schrecengost, 27, of Karns City in the torso at a Chicora bar in September. He has been in Butler County Prison since his arrest at the time. Since then, the case has stalled as Ellenberger's lawyer, public defender Charles Nedz, awaits the results of a psychiatric evaluation.During a court hearing on Tuesday, Nedz told Butler County Judge Timothy McCune and Assistant District Attorney Ben Simon that evaluation is almost complete.In previous interviews, Nedz said that Ellenberger has a long history of psychiatric issues, and that he plans to build an insanity defense.