OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Prosecutors have requested a second psychiatric evaluation of a man accused of killing his parents in their Wolf River home.
Erik Metzig faces two counts of first-degree intentional homicide for the March 18 deaths of David and Jan Metzig.
At a hearing in September, Metzig pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. At that time, the judge ordered a psychiatric evaluation. The results of that exam were submitted, prompting prosecutors to ask for a second opinion. The judge agreed to the second examination Wednesday, court records show.
Currently, there are no hearings set in the case.
If the case goes to trial with the not guilty by reason of mental disease plea, two phases of trial would be held. The first phase would determine Metzig’s guilt or innocence. If convicted, the same jury would then be asked to determine if he suffered from a mental disease or defect at the time of the murders which would have prevented him from conforming actions to the law; if he knew right from wrong. If the jury determines he did suffer from a mental disease, Metzig would be committed to a psychiatric facility. If not, he faces two mandatory life prison terms.
Police were called to the home around 5:15 a.m., where the dead couple was discovered. Police found the bodies in the bedroom, covered in blankets, with apparent gunshot wounds to the head, the criminal complaint states.
According to their obituary, David and Jan Metzig were third-generation owners of Union Star Cheese Factory near Fremont.
