Hill Deemed Competent For Trial

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Published on Monday, 18 November 2013 18:45

Written by Jeremy Holden

NEW HAMPSHIRE - A Vermont man charged with stabbing a woman to death at a hotel in Littleton last January has been deemed competent to stand trial. 

Rodney Hill, a resident of West Danville, tackled and then proceeded to stab 70-year-old Catherine "Kitty" Houghton in the lobby of the Hampton Inn Hotel in Littleton late last January. Hill explained to police that he was "the son of Lucifer" and that he attacked Houghton, in belief that she was his father, and "the Devil in disguise." Hill feared that Houghton was going to hurt him and his family.

Hill has acknowledged to police his use of Seroquel, an anti-psychotic medication to treat bipolar depression and schizophrenia. Just prior to the stabbing, Hill had become angry about an email from his boss, and was also going through a divorce at the time.

In late June of 2013, Hill was indicted on one count of second-degree murder. Last Thursday, Hill was brought to Grafton County Court in Haverhill for a hearing that lasted only five minutes. At the end of the hearing the judge found that Hill, despite pleading insanity, was competent to stand trial.

While Hill is required to stand trial, no court date has been set, but is supposed to be held in February.

For more information on the incident, take a look at a story by News7's Julianne Walshaw.