Suspect in child slaying deemed unfit for trial
18.05.12 - Arizona Daily Star (blog)
After hearing hours and hours of testimony from several doctors over several days, Judge Deborah Bernini has declared Loretto "Kyle" Alegria mentally unfit to stand trial. Judge Bernini ordered Alegria into a restoration-to-competency program at the jail on April 17. Alegria, 22, is accused of beating and stabbing 7-year-old Rhia Almeida to death in June 2009 when she came to his house to visit his little brother. He has a history of mental-health issues and has been on periodic suicide watch at the Pima County jail. Bernini first asked doctors to examine Alegria after he turned down a plea agreement that guaranteed he would not face the death penalty.