Elderly Man Charged with Murder to Get Treatment Before Trial

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) - An elderly man charged with first-degree murder will receive psychiatric treatment until he’s determined to be competent to stand trial, according to Twin Falls County Prosecuting Attorney Grant Loebs.

The murder case involving Paul Robert Welch, 87, had a status hearing Monday. Judge Richard Bevan ordered Welch be turned over to Health and Welfare and taken to Hospital South, in Blackfoot, Idaho, for treatment.

Welch will remain at hospital south until it’s determined that he is competent. Welch was accused of killing friend 81-year-old Barbara Sue Chitwood on Aug. 21, 2015, with a.22-caliber pistol. Just after 4 p.m. on Aug. 21, police were called to the home where they found Chitwood and Welch.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The man was found with injuries and was rushed to the hospital. As previously reported by KMVT, Welch’s proceedings were postponed until a psychiatrist or licensed psychologist can perform an examination to determine if Welch’s actions were a result of a mental disease or if he lacks of capacity to understand the proceedings.