More than four years after a string of shootings terrorized communities in Stockton and drew national attention, a San Joaquin County jury is now deciding whether alleged serial killer Wesley Brownlee is mentally competent to stand trial in a death penalty case tied to six killings and one attempted murder.
After six weeks of testimony from mental health experts, jail staff, family members and dozens of other witnesses, jurors began deliberations Thursday over whether Brownlee understands the proceedings against him and can rationally assist his attorneys in preparing a defense.
The verdict will not determine Brownlee’s guilt or innocence. Instead, jurors must decide whether he is mentally competent to face trial on charges connected to a series of shootings that shook California’s Central Valley and prompted a massive manhunt in 2022.
What jurors must decide about Wesley Brownlee’s competency
Under California law, a defendant is considered competent to stand trial if they understand the nature of the criminal proceedings, understand their role in those proceedings, and can rationally assist their legal defense.
A unanimous jury verdict is required.
Brownlee’s attorneys argue he suffers from an untreated mental disorder that prevents him from meaningfully participating in his own defense. Prosecutors counter that he understands the case against him and is deliberately refusing to cooperate with counsel.
The competency question has delayed a murder trial that could ultimately determine whether Brownlee faces the death penalty.
Stockton serial killings case drew statewide attention
Brownlee was arrested in October 2022 after authorities linked him to a series of shootings in Stockton and Oakland. Prosecutors accuse him of killing six men and attempting to murder a woman.
The victims identified in court records are:
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Jonathan Hernandez Rodriguez, 21
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Juan Carlos Carranza-Cruz, 52
Prosecutors also accuse Brownlee of attempting to kill Natasha LaTour, who survived a shooting attack.
The killings sparked widespread fear across Stockton and surrounding communities, leading residents to alter daily routines while investigators searched for a suspect.
Defense says Brownlee cannot assist in his own defense
Wesley Brownlee, left, and San Joaquin County public defender Allison Nobert in San Joaquin County Superior Court on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022.
Defense attorney Allison Nobert told jurors the evidence showed a clear decline in Brownlee’s ability to communicate and engage with those around him.
She argued the case is not about whether Brownlee occasionally speaks to family members or jail staff, but whether he can rationally assist attorneys preparing a complex capital murder defense. According to the defense, Brownlee has become increasingly isolated, withdrawn, and unable to provide lawyers with information they need to defend him.
Jurors heard recordings of phone calls between Brownlee and family members in which he was largely silent or provided limited responses. The defense said those interactions reflected a genuine mental health crisis rather than a strategic refusal to participate.
Attorneys also emphasized that concerns about Brownlee’s competency originated with his legal team, which filed a formal declaration of doubt in 2024 after describing a breakdown in communication with their client.
Prosecutors Say Brownlee Is Choosing Not to Cooperate
Deputy District Attorney Elton Grau urged jurors to reject the defense argument, contending the evidence showed Brownlee remains capable of participating in his defense but chooses not to.
Prosecutors highlighted jail video, recorded phone calls, and conversations with family members, which they said showed Brownlee could communicate coherently when it served his interests.
Grau argued that competency is based on Brownlee’s present condition, not his past mental health history. The prosecution maintains Brownlee understands the charges against him and can work with counsel if he chooses.
According to prosecutors, the key issue is not an inability to communicate but an unwillingness to cooperate.
What happens if the jury finds Brownlee incompetent?
If the jury finds Brownlee incompetent to stand trial, criminal proceedings would remain paused while he receives treatment to restore competency.
If jurors find him competent, the long-delayed murder case would move forward toward trial on charges connected to the Stockton serial killings investigation.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alleged Stockton serial killer Wesley Brownlee competency case to jury
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