Exam Ordered for St. Cloud Woman Accused of Killing Father

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) - A judge has ordered a mental competency exam for a central Minnesota woman accused of killing her father and escaping to Kentucky.

Stearns County Judge Kris Davick-Halfen ordered the evaluation Monday for 38-year-old Lisa Kearney of St. Cloud. Kearney is charged with second-degree murder in the bludgeoning death of 66-year-old Jeffrey Schilling. His body was found Jan. 4 inside the home he shared with Kearney.

Kearney was ordered held on $1 million bail. The criminal proceedings will reportedly be halted until the exam is completed.

A criminal complaint says Schilling died of head injuries, apparently inflicted with an ax-like tool found nearby.

Kearney was arrested in Louisville, Kentucky, on Jan. 6 and later returned to Minnesota. Prosecutors are considering seeking a first-degree murder indictment.