State expert testifies that Jefferson City child murder suspect is competent for trial
Matthew Sanders
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
A state psychologist testified Friday that a woman charged with murdering a 4-year-old boy in Jefferson City in 2018 is mentally competent to go to trial.
Tiffany Harris, a forensic examiner and senior psychologist for the Missouri Department of Mental Health, testified during a hearing in the Cole County Courthouse that Quatavia Givens’ behavior shows she is competent. She has been diagnosed with PTSD, but that does not affect her ability to stand trial, Harris testified.
Givens was deemed mentally incompetent in 2023 and, since then, has yet to stand trial.
Quatavia Givens, 32, was charged with first-degree murder, child abuse, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child and abandoning a corpse in relation to the death of 4-year-old Darnell Gray in 2018. She is listed on the Cole County Jail online roster, but was admitted to Fulton State Hospital last year.
The state argued Friday before Judge William Hickle that Givens understands the legal process and the charges against her. Medication has improved her psychological symptoms, prosecutors claim.
Givens’ defense claims that its experts believe she has not received proper treatment to render her competent for trial. They say Givens needed individual intervention not group classes like “Court Education” and “Seeking Safety” that she is apart of at FSH. The defense also argued that Givens’ PTSD makes it hard for her to confront the details of the case and participate in her defense.
Court documents say that Givens allegedly struck and smothered Gray, resulting in his death.
Hickle said he will consider the arguments before issuing his ruling. A decision is expected early next week.