HUNTSVILLE — The suspect in the torture and murder of a Madison County man will be moved to a specialized mental health facility after jail officials, and attorneys said they are concerned for the safety of staff and inmates.
Kyle Lewter, 36, is charged in the death of Derek Franklin Walls. Walls was tortured and killed at a home off Capshaw Road, and his body was found on March 7.
After Lewter was taken into custody, a psychologist who evaluated him confirmed he had multiple diagnoses and needed more care in a mental health facility. Jail staff said Lewter’s hallucinations were intense and the inmate had manic behavior.
Lewter has a long history of mental health illnesses, including bipolar I disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, mood disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder and others.
During a preliminary hearing Thursday, the judge agreed Lewter could be moved from the Madison County Jail to a mental health facility.
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