Man Remains Mentally Incompetent To Face Trial in Bountiful Slaying

Published on July 02, 2009 at 05:22PM

(FARMINGTON)—A man accused of stabbing a woman to death with a steak knife remains mentally incompetent to face trial, court records indicate. During a hearing in 2nd District Court Wednesday, a judge said he had received a letter from the Utah State Hospital that indicated Phillip Joseph Simmons remains mentally incompetent to face trial. Court records indicate the judge scheduled another hearing for December 1 to determine if Simmons could be restored to competency. Simmons’ courtroom behavior has been described as “bizarre,” and the 37-year old man is charged with first-degree felony murder. He has been accused of stabbing 57-year old Suzanne Fry to death in her Bountiful apartment in January 2008. Reportedly, Fry had been stabbed 51 times with a steak knife, police said. Charging documents said the two had been arguing about food and that he heard the word “murder” in his mind, after which he blacked out. When he came to, the victim was lying on the floor and there was blood all over. Bountiful police said it appeared that Fry had invited Simmons to stay with her. Family and friends described Fry as having a “mental disability,” but say she was trying to help Simmons in some way.