Alamo murder suspect deemed incompetent to stand trial

ALAMO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A doctor has deemed the suspect in an Alamo murder incompetent to stand trial, records indicate.

Christopher Lee Soto, is accused of stabbing Brittany Kay Ireland, 38, with a knife and causing her death on Oct. 30, 2023.

As previously reported by ValleyCentral, just after noon on Oct. 30, 2023, Alamo police responded to Acacia RV Trailer Park on Business 83 where they saw paramedics tending to a man who was in the living room with injuries.

Ireland's body was found in the rear bedroom of the home with “lacerations to the neck,” police added.

Soto is charged with murder in connection to this case. However, neither the state nor the defendant have requested a trial before a judge due to questions about Soto's incompetency.

After a request was made to judge Soto's competency, Dr. Vittorio Puente concluded that he was unfit for trial.

Here is what it takes for the justice system to deem a suspect unfit to stand trial:

During the time leading up to his competency hearing, Soto was in a maximum security unit operated by the Texas Department of Health and Human Services for further examination and treatment toward the objective of attaining competency to stand trial.

The facility developed an individual program of treatment to assess and evaluate whether Soto could obtain competency in the future. They also had to report their progress.

At the end of the period where they tested his competency, the head of the facility was required to file a final report. This report was not readily available on Hidalgo County Records at the time of publication.

ValleyCentral will continue to follow this case to inform on what the courts will decide to do in Soto's case.