Baby Gabriel Mom Competent to Stand Trial; Defense Team Waives Competency Hearing | Valley Fever | Phoenix | Phoenix New Times | The Leading Independent News Source in Phoenix, Arizona
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Baby Gabriel Mom Competent to Stand Trial; Defense Team Waives Competency Hearing

After months of debate over whether Elizabeth Johnson, the mother of Gabriel Johnson -- the baby who went missing last December -- is competent to stand trial, her defense team has waived a hearing on the matter.Johnson was initially found incompetent to stand trial following a psychological evaluation back in...
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After months of debate over whether Elizabeth Johnson, the mother of Gabriel Johnson -- the baby who went missing last December -- is competent to stand trial, her defense team has waived a hearing on the matter.

Johnson was initially found incompetent to stand trial following a psychological evaluation back in June. In August, however, the state went back on its earlier finding and ruled that Johnson is competent.

Following that ruling, Johnson's attorneys requested a hearing. Today, they waived the hearing and agreed that Johnson's not nuts.


Johnson first made headlines in January after not appearing at a December custody hearing over her then-8-month-old son.  Johnson disappeared with the baby and went to San Antonio, Texas, where Gabriel was last seen alive.

While on the run, Johnson sent text messages to the baby's father, Logan McQueary, saying she had killed the baby and put his body in a dumpster.

She later recanted her claims and said she gave the baby to a random couple she met at a park in San Antonio.

Initially, Tempe police were optimistic that the baby was still alive but have since changed their tune as tips in the case slowed.

Johnson's been in the Maricopa County Jail system since her arrest. Initially, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio claimed she was a model inmate.

Arpaio's tune soon changed after Johnson assaulted two other prisoners, was thrown in the jail's loony bin, and placed on Joe's "loaf" program.

If you're unfamiliar with Joe's loaf, click here.

Johnson's scheduled to be in court again on Monday.

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