It’s back to a WA state hospital for accused murderer of Pasco school bus driver
State evaluators are going to take another to look at whether a man accused of fatally stabbing a Pasco bus driver was legally sane at the time.
A defense expert recently finished a report on an independent evaluation of Joshua Dian Davis’ mental health in recent months.
While that evaluator’s opinion has not been made public, Franklin County Prosecutor Shawn Sant said the report triggered the need to have state mental health professionals at Eastern State Hospital do more testing.
Davis, 35, is charged with first-degree murder in the September 2021 stabbing of Richard “Dick” Lenhart on a school bus full of children.
This time Washington state evaluators will be asked to determine if Davis understood he was committing a crime when he attacked Lenhart.
Earlier this year, a Washington state psychologist determined that Davis understands the court proceedings, and his trial can move forward.
The second evaluation will be to prepare if Davis’ defense attorney asks the judge or jury to find that Davis is not guilty because of a diminished capacity or insanity.
Davis’ next hearing is scheduled for January.
September attack
Lenhart, 72, who had been a bus driver for six years, had picked up students outside of Longfellow Elementary School on the afternoon of Sept. 24, 2021, when he was attacked.
Pasco police believe Davis had driven his truck to a neighborhood near the school about 3 p.m. that day.
He ran toward the parked bus as Lenhart was preparing to leave, prompting Lenhart to open the bus doors in anticipation of a question from Davis, according to court documents.
Video showed Davis step onto the bus and ask if it went to Road 100. When Lenhart said it didn’t, Davis pulled out a knife and stabbed him, said court documents.
Davis got off the bus but waited nearby for police to arrive and arrest him, though he refused to talk with officers.
This story was originally published October 26, 2022 at 5:45 AM.