Jury says man who killed two Rohnert Park women still a danger

Mathew Beck sought release from an outpatient program after being found not guilty by reason of insanity in the 2000 slayings.|

A man found not guilty by reason of insanity of the 2000 slayings of two Rohnert Park women continues to be a danger to the health and safety of others and must remain on outpatient supervision, jurors found Tuesday.

Mathew Beck, 43, stabbed to death his uncle’s fiancee, Sandra Napier, 36, and her mother, Marcella Napier, 63, after suffering a psychotic breakdown.

Beck spent more than 10 years in state mental hospitals before winning conditional release into an outpatient program in 2012.

In a more than weeklong trial that started earlier this month, he presented evidence suggesting he was no longer a danger and should be free of all remaining oversight including curfews, drug testing and counseling.

But Conrep program officials testified he was not ready, pointing to concerns about his behavior. Jurors, agreed, voting 10-2 to reject his bid for at least another year. His lawyer said he will likely seek another ruling then.

“Mr. Beck, it’s been a long road for you and you’re still on that road,” Judge Elliot Daum said after the verdict. “But I see light for you at the end of the tunnel.”

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

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