Former MSU assistant professor found incompetent to stand trial in the murder of retired professor

(AP) A former Missouri State University assistant professor has been found incompetent to stand trial in the murder of a retired professor.

KYTV reports Edward Gutting was ordered Thursday to be taken into the custody of the Missouri Department of Mental Health.

Gutting was charged with killing Missouri State history professor emeritus Marc Cooper and injuring his wife, Nancy. Police say Gutting forced his way into the Coopers’ home in central Springfield in August 2016 and stabbed the victims.

Gutting was charged with first-degree murder after police found him covered in blood outside of Cooper’s home.

Gutting taught in Missouri State’s department of Modern and Classical Languages. Police have said Cooper and Gutting knew one another but were not friends.

A motive for the attacks has not been publicly disclosed.