FAYETTEVILLE — The capital murder trial for a Greenland man accused of killing his wife and mother-in-law and critically injuring a third family member is delayed.
Mandrake Patterson, 28, is charged with two counts of felony capital murder and one count of attempted capital murder.
Patterson was set for trial Monday but Washington County Circuit Judge William Storey reset the case to the week of July 14 at the request of the defense. The Public Defender’s Office is representing Patterson.
Betty DeSalvo, 53, was shot in the head and pronounced dead at the scene Jan. 10, 2013, according to police. Hope Patterson, 34, was shot in the stomach and died at Washington Regional Medical Center. Denise Fulfer, 55, was shot in the shoulder and survived.
Patterson, the three gunshot victims and an unidentified witness were the only ones present when the shooting occurred at the Elmwood Apartments in Greenland, police said.
Patterson was arrested at the residence minutes later, police said. According to an arrest report, investigators recovered a shotgun from the scene.
Greenland Police Chief Gary Ricker said Mandrake Patterson was the husband of Hope Patterson. DeSalvo was Hope Patterson’s mother and Fulfer was DeSalvo’s sister.
Patterson faces either the death penalty or a mandatory term of life in prison without the possibility of parole on each charge if convicted.
Matt Durrett, lead prosecutor on the case, said Friday he hasn't decided whether to seek the death penalty in the case.
Patterson is being held without bond in the Washington County Detention Center.