A Pierce County Superior Court judge has ruled Michael Gese, the son charged with the murder of Gail Gese, 66, his mother and a Kent teacher, incompetent to stand trial.
Judge Karena Kirkendoll ordered competency restoration for Gese at a Feb. 23 hearing following evaluations of the 31-year-old. She ordered a 90-day inpatient restoration period, according to a Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson.
Gese, charged with first-degree murder in the Feb. 1 stabbing of Gail Gese at her Tacoma home, is scheduled to return to court May 19 for a competency hearing. Due to the frequent delays in defendants being moved to Western State Hospital in Lakewood for competency restoration, that May hearing might be delayed. There is a long waiting list of defendants who need restoration services due to a lack of beds.
Gese remains in custody in the Pierce County jail.
Gail Gese taught in the Kent School District at Cedar Heights Middle School in Covington. She taught math, foods, fads and finance at Cedar Heights since 2011. She previously taught at Kent Phoenix Academy.
A celebration of life service for Gese will be Saturday, March 4 at Sunset Bible Church in University Place. She is survived by her husband, three children and four grandchildren.
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