By LEONARD GRAY

EDGARD – A Garyville man was recently ruled competent to stand trial for the first-degree murder of his wife and three children in April. A hearing should be held in August to set a trial date.

The suspect, David Logan Roy, 35, entered two pleas, innocent and innocent by reason of insanity, on each count before 40th Judicial District Judge J. Sterling Snowdy.

Roy underwent psychiatric evaluation to determine his competence to stand trial for those crimes. He is charged with killing his wife, Melissa, 32; and their daughter, Asher, 9, their son, Christopher, 2; and their infant daughter, Alyssa, 11 months.

St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Wayne L. Jones reported the crime on April 18, a day after Roy allegedly slashed the throats of his wife of nine years and their children with a 14-inch butcher knife. After the slayings, Roy sat in the home for several hours and then drove to the sheriff’s office and turned himself in to authorities.

Jones said Roy claimed financial pressure and marital problems prompted the killing of his wife and the desire not to leave his children to anyone else. He filed for bankruptcy in March in an attempt to save his $65,000 home where the family had lived for six years. He was employed at Kaiser Aluminum until October, designing industrial blueprints but was laid off.

During testimony, court-appointed doctors said Roy was mentally fit to assist attorneys in defending his case. Forensic psychiatrist Rafael Salcedo of Terrytown in Jefferson Parish and St. John the Baptist Parish Coroner Dr. Christy Montegut said they could not determine Roy’s mental state at the time of the crimes.

When sheriff’s investigators arrived at the residence on Buster Drive, Melissa Roy was found dead in the couple’s bed, Asher was in her bed, Christopher was in the living room in front of the television and Alyssa was in her crib. All the bodies had been covered with blankets before Roy surrendered to police.

Assistant District Attorney Georgeanne Graugnard will prosecute the case for District Attorney John Crum. Roy’s defense attorney is Joseph Raspanti.