A Lancaster city man charged with killing, beheading, and dismembering his father in August 2021 is not competent to stand trial, a Lancaster County Judge ruled Monday.

Donald Meshey Jr., 35 of the 200 block of W. Strawberry Street, will be transferred to Norristown State Hospital, Torrance State Hospital, or any other facility approved for mental health treatment.

Lancaster County Judge Dennis Reinaker based his order on a report from a forensic psychiatrist who interviewed Meshey Jr. and reviewed relevant reports to the case.

Assistant District Attorneys Mark Fetterman and CJ Restemayer stipulated to the psychiatrist’s report and did not oppose the recommendation for treatment.

Meshey Jr. appeared in court virtually Monday from Lancaster County Prison.

Meshey Jr. is charged with criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with evidence after the Lancaster City Bureau of Police responded to the W. Strawberry Street residence on Aug. 11, 2021, around 8:51 a.m., for the report of a subject who was concerned about the welfare of the residents at the home.

The reporting subject said they had spoken with Meshey Jr., who said there was a cadaver in one of the beds in the home and a human head in the freezer.

Meshey Jr. escorted officers through the residence and showed them what appeared to be a human head from the freezer.

Meshey Jr. said during a subsequent interview at the Lancaster City Bureau of Police station that he saw a “cadaver doll” in his father’s bedroom, which looked and sounded like his father.

Meshey Jr. admitted to stabbing the “cadaver doll” for 2-3 minutes with a knife and then dismembering the body.

Meshey Jr. will be reevaluated in no more than 90 days and every 90 days after to determine his competency to stand trial.

A defendant must be able to participate in their own defense and understand the nature of the proceedings against them in order to stand trial.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Lancaster City Bureau of Police Detective Ryan Burgett filed charges.