Montgomery Had Severe Mental Disease, Doctor Says

Oct 16, 06:36 PM

Current Headlines: By Tony Rizzo, The Kansas City Star, Mo.

Oct. 16--Lisa Montgomery suffered from a "severe mental disease" at the time of Bobbie Jo Stinnett's murder, a doctor testified for her defense this afternoon.

Brain researcher Vilayanur Ramachandran testified that Montgomery suffered from pseudocyesis, a delusional belief that she was actually pregnant.

An "exceptionally rare" illness, it can progress to a dissociative state where the patient can act without the ability to appreciate the wrongfulness of her act, he said.

Montgomery's claim that she can't remember the actual killing of Stinnett would be typical of a person in a dissociative state, according to the doctor.

He also said that Montgomery's history of family dysfunction and physical and sexual abuse would predispose her to be afflicted with pseudocyesis.

Earlier today, the psychiatrist who has treated Montgomery since her arrest testified that she believes that Montgomery is now delusional.

But Linda McCandless admitted that her diagnosis is based solely on things Montgomery told her last week after Montgomery's trial for kidnapping resulting in death already had begun in Kansas City.

McCandless testified that she first met with Montgomery four days after authorities arrested her in December 2004 and took from her arms a day-old infant who had been crudely cut from its mother's womb in Skidmore, Mo.

Montgomery told her that she did not remember committing the crime, McCandless testified.

According to McCandless, Montgomery said, "I must have done it because I had that baby. I can't think I would do something like that."

Montgomery also told her, "I deserve to die if I did that," McCandless testified.

At that time, Montgomery denied having any auditory or visual hallucinations, McCandless said.

McCandless' initial diagnosis was that Montgomery suffered from bipolar disorder, depression and alcohol dependency.

McCandless believes Montgomery is now delusional because Montgomery now says she believes she was actually pregnant and that she delivered a baby December 13, 2004, despite recent testing that confirms that Montgomery is incapable of having children.

Montgomery believes she buried her baby "out back" and said, "I still think the baby is out there," McCandless testified.

In cross examination, prosecutors asked McCandless if she was aware that Montgomery had confessed to authorities the day after Stinnett's body was found. McCandless said she was unaware of that.

Prosecutors also played a recording of a recent phone conversation between Montgomery and her husband in which she talked about things she told the psychiatrist. Prosecutors said that Montgomery mocked McCandless during that call.

The trial, now in its eighth day of testimony, continues this afternoon. If the jury finds Montgomery guilty, prosecutors plan to see the death penalty.

Montgomery's lawyers have conceded that she strangled Stinnett and took the baby, but they say she suffered from a mental illness that made her incapable of understanding the wrongness of her actions.

To reach Tony Rizzo, call (816) 234-4435 or send e-mail to trizzo@kcstar.com.

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