No new competency hearing; trial in rest stop murder will be scheduled

The murder trial of a Nebraska man accused of killing a maintenance worker at an Interstate 80 rest stop last May will be put back on the Iowa District Court schedule after being on hold to determine the man's competency.

The trial of Peter Riggs, 32, of Columbus, Neb., was suspended in November to give his attorney, Peter Persaud, time to get another mental evaluation, but Persaud told the judge Monday he hasn't been able to get another evaluation at this time.

Riggs appeared in court Monday but didn't speak during the short hearing.

Persaud said he will continue to pursue another evaluation after the first one indicated Riggs suffered from schizoaffective disorder. The second evaluation didn't confirm that diagnosis, so Persaud is seeking another evaluation but has been turned down by some psychologists.

Shizoaffective disorder is a condition in which a person experiences a combination of schizophrenia symptoms, such as hallucinations or delusions, and mood disorder symptoms, such as mania or depression, according to MayoClinic.com

Riggs previously wrote three letters to the court confessing to killing Jeffrey McAdam, 46, of Victor, May 29. McAdam was shot in the men's restroom while working at the Victor I-80 rest stop.

In those letters, Riggs said he hated McAdam. He also told the court he wanted to plead guilty to the crime and fire his attorney.

A new trial date will be set later this week.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

Man accused in I-80 rest stop shooting confesses in letter to court