A man accused of repeatedly stabbing a biotech executive near the Westfield UTC in 2014 was determined Oct. 7 to be legally insane during the attack.
Odie James Miller, Jr., now 23, has been in custody at a state psychiatric hospital most of the time since his arrest in the Aug. 6, 2014 assault of a 44-year-old biotech engineer identified only as Brian M. in court records.
Miller returned from Patton State Hospital earlier this year after doctors and a judge determined he was mentally competent to stand trial. The attorneys agreed Oct. 7 to stipulate to doctors’ reports that he was insane.
As part of a duel proceeding before San Diego Superior Court Judge Louis Hanoian, Miller pleaded guilty to attempted murder. Hanoian said he would face 13 years in prison had it not been for the insanity finding.
Hanoian told Miller he might be housed in a state mental hospital even longer than 13 years. He told Miller there was no parole like there would be in prison if he was committed to a psychiatric facility.
It would be up to Miller to prove he has regained his sanity and no longer a danger before he could be released.
Miller told Hanoian he was on four different psychiatric medications now but did understand the court proceedings.
The victim was stabbed several dozen times at 12:15 p.m. in the vicinity of Renaissance Avenue and Towne Centre Drive. Miller did not know the victim and it appears to be a random attack.
Miller was on probation at the time for carrying a knife around his family. His father has said his son was off his medications at the time of the 2014 attack.
Miller remains in the central jail without bail.