Competency hearing set for suspect in Interstate 80 rest stop murder

A competency hearing has been set for a Nebraska man accused of killing a maintenance worker at the Victor Interstate 80 rest stop last May.

A competency trial for Peter Riggs, 32, of Columbus, Neb., who is charged with first-degree murder, is set 11:30 a.m. Jan. 31 in Iowa County District Court. A judge suspended the trial and all court proceedings against Riggs to determine if he is competent to stand trial.

Riggs suffers from schizoaffective disorder, according to hearing in November. Schizoaffective disorder is a condition in which a person experiences a combination of schizophrenia symptoms, such as hallucinations or delusions, and of mood disorder symptoms, such as mania or depression, according to MayoClinic.com

Johnson County Chief Public Defender Peter Persaud, Riggs' attorney, said in a motion filed in November the evaluation of Riggs' previously conducted raised concerns as to whether Riggs can effectively assist in his defense.

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 rest stop.

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