CASSOPOLIS — Two doctors have declared an Elkhart woman competent to stand trial in the May 17 death of her husband’s grandmother in her Edwardsburg area home.

However, it will still be six weeks before 31-year-old Elizabeth Bosworth will appear for her preliminary exam in Cass County District Court to determine probable cause.

On Wednesday, Cass County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Frank Machnik told the court that Bosworth, who had been transferred to Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital because of her behavior in Cass County Jail, had been declared competent to stand trial on an open murder charge in the death of 85-year-old Margaret Bosworth.

However, he told Judge Paul Deats that she was "acting out in such a way that they need to treat her" before she can appear in court. He requested a maintenance order that would provide six weeks of treatment in order to "stabilize" her for a preliminary exam hearing.

Elizabeth Bosworth’s court-appointed attorney Dale Blunier said he had requested the competency evaluation at the end of May based on conversations with her family about her mental health history and his own observations of her.

"She did not appear to understand the charges to the degree to be able to assist with her defense," Blunier said after Deats entered the order.

He also said his client, as she waited in Cass County Jail for her competency exam, was transferred by Probate Court order to the Kalamazoo facility.

"There were some self-destructive behaviors and uncontrollable outbreaks and rages," Blunier said.

Elizabeth Bosworth is accused of stabbing her husband’s grandmother in the elderly woman’s home on the 20000 block of Grange Street in Mason Township, between Edwardsburg and Union. She survived the attack long enough for a relative to find her in the home unresponsive and later died at Elkhart General Hospital.

Police said she had been stabbed multiple times and suffered other wounds.

During her arraignment, the prosecution cited money as a likely motive in her murder. Elizabeth Bosworth also faces an additional charge of obtaining money under false pretenses.

"We look forward to proceeding with this case and prosecuting it to the fullest extent of the law," Machnik said.

Open murder carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Staff writer Melissa Jackson:
mjackson@sbtinfo.com
(574) 807-2956