Lybbert gets mental exam

EPHRATA - A 20-year-old Moses Lake man accused of killing his girlfriend's disabled father in September entered Eastern State Hospital last week for a mental evaluation, his lawyers said Wednesday.

Daniel Elijah Lybbert is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the Sept. 28 stabbing death of his girlfriend's father, Patrick J. Haddican II. Lybbert pleaded not guilty to the charge in October.

A Moses Lake Police Department investigation and report shows Haddican, 44, of Moses Lake, was stabbed repeatedly in bed at his Hayden Drive home and died. According to police, Haddican's wife and daughter reportedly saw the disabled man being attacked by Lybbert.

An autopsy by the Grant County Coroner determined Haddican died from multiple stab wounds to the chest. Haddican had multiple sclerosis, was mostly bedridden and relied on a wheelchair.

Lybbert was taken from the Hayden Drive home to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake, where he was treated for knife wounds to his abdomen. Police said Lybbert stabbed himself after allegedly attacking Haddican.

Lybbert was released from the hospital on Oct. 4 and booked into Grant County Jail on the murder charge. His bail was set at $1 million.

Lybbert's public defenders, Mike Haas and Janelle Peterson, requested the mental evaluation in October.

Grant County Deputy Prosecutor Ed Owens said Wednesday the evaluation could last up to 90 days. Meantime, the case is on hold, Owens said.