Mother of Santa Rosa stabbing suspect pleads for him to be committed

The mother of a 22-year-old Santa Rosa man charged with stabbing his father to death urged a judge Thursday to commit her son to a mental institution.

Marilyn Herczog stood up in a courtroom audience and told Judge Dana Simonds that her son, Houston Herczog, would likely kill himself in jail.

"He's going to die if he stays in here more," she said during a hearing on his mental state. "He's going to commit suicide."

Her comments came as prosecutors asked for an additional review of reports from two court-appointed psychiatrists who found Herczog was insane at the time he killed Mark Herczog, 63, in 2011.

Police said Houston Herczog stabbed his father more than 50 times after returning to their Rincon Valley home from a late-night gym.

Prosecutor Bob Waner asked to have another doctor evaluate the findings and could seek an additional examination of Herczog.

Simonds ordered both sides to return to court March 15.

Herczog has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com.