Forensic psychiatrist testifies Pittsburgh synagogue shooter meets qualifications for death penalty
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- In deciding whether the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter will face the death penalty, the jury must first decide if he is eligible for the ultimate punishment. On Monday, the final witness in this phase of the trial testified he meets all the qualifications.
Forensic psychiatrist Park Deitz is a nationally known expert in criminal psychology who has analyzed defendants or consulted in high-profile cases like Jeffrey Dahmer and unabomber Ted Kaczynski.
Deitz told the jury the gunman doesn't have schizophrenia or epilepsy but a personality disorder resulting in social isolation. The gunman, he said, was a loner who lacked close friends and communicated hour after hour only with other white supremacists on the internet who stoked his antisemitic hatred and wild conspiracy theories about Jews.
"All that time he spent on the internet, that allowed him to acquire so many extreme beliefs without interacting with people who would tell him, 'That's stupid. Why do believe all this stuff?'" Deitz testified.
Several witnesses have testified Bowers believed Jewish groups were bringing so-called "immigrant invaders" into the U.S. to destroy the white race. But even up until May, when Deitz interviewed the defendant at the Butler County Jail, Bowers has held on to his beliefs, telling Deitz he was proud of killing 11 people and only wish there were "dozens and dozens" more in the synagogue he could have killed -- even if he faces the death penalty.
"They can kill me if they want, but the score is still 11 to one," Bowers told Deitz. "That's not winning the war, but I won the battle."
On cross-examination, the defense questioned Deitz on how his diagnosis could differ from that of their four experts -- first focusing on a profit motive, eliciting that the government is paying Deitz between $600 and $800 an hour. They also challenged his distinction between mental illness and a personality disorder. Deitz allowed that disagreements between mental health experts are common.
Deitz was under cross-examination when court ended Monday and he'll be back on the stand Tuesday morning.
Last month, the gunman was convicted and found guilty of all 63 federal charges he was facing for the attack at the Tree of Life synagogue on Oct. 27, 2018, when he killed 11 worshippers from three different congregations, Tree of Life, Dor Hadash, and New Light. It was the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.
If the jury decides he is indeed eligible for the death penalty, the case will continue onto the final phase, where they will decide if he will be sentenced to life in prison or death.
That final phase of the trial would include victim impact statements.
Recapping the penalty phase of the trial
Last week, Dr. Deitz began is testimony, saying the suspect knowingly and willingly killed those 11 people.
Earlier testimony in the penalty phase has consisted of medical experts being called to the stand surrounding the gunman's diagnoses of epilepsy and schizophrenia, while prosecutors of challenges those diagnoses.
Other testimony has included psychiatric reports, examination notes, and IQ analysis all surrounding the mental state of the accused gunman.
Support is available for those in need during the trial
If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health effects from the trial, go to 1027healingpartnership.org to find help resources. As always, call 911 to report threats.
Phone: 412-697-3534
Email: info@1027HealingPartnership.org
Website: 1027healingpartnership.org
More resources can be found here.
