Murder suspect undergoes mental health evalution

PORT ORCHARD — A suspect in custody for second degree murder is undergoing a psychiatric evaluation at Western State Hospital in Tacoma after Kitsap County Superior Court Judge Leila Mills granted a motion Tuesday to postpone the formal arraignment to Oct. 29.

Garrett James McKinstry, 21, of Kingston is accused of killing his father, Jeffrey Allen McKinstry, 53, also of Kingston, Oct. 11 at their home on South Kingston Road. He made his preliminary court appearance Oct. 12, and was held in jail with bail set at $1 million.

According to court documents, Garrett James McKinstry was evaluated at Harrison Hospital at 2:24 a.m. Oct. 12, and made comments to a nurse about harming himself. He was placed on suicide watch for most of the time leading up to his scheduled formal arraignment Tuesday. Defense Attorney David LaCross of Port Orchard requested a motion for Garrett James McKinstry to undergo a mental health evaluation to determine if he is fit to stand trial.

Garrett James McKinstry allegedly stabbed Jeffrey McKinstry more than 20 times with a 6- to 8-inch kitchen knife at about 5 p.m. Oct. 11, according to the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office.

Jeffrey McKinstry was a counselor at Ordway High School on Bainbridge Island, and taught in the North Kitsap School District from 1989 to 1995. Garrett James McKinstry graduated from North Kitsap High School in 2004.

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