Soto appeared via video link from jail.
A judge granted a motion to have Soto undergo a psychiatric evaluation, to determine whether or not he is mentally fit to withstand trial.
He is due to return for another hearing on May 17, 2024.
Four people were killed in the brazen daylight murder spree, including 15-year-old Jenna Newcomb, 49-year-old mail carrier Jay Larson, 63-year-old Romona Schupbach, and her son, 23-year-old Jacob Schupbach.
Winnebago County State’s Attorney J. Hanley said at a news conference that Soto told police he went over to Jacob Schupbach’s home, in the 2300 block of Holmes Street to smoke marijuana.
Soto told police he believed the drugs to have been “laced with something,” fueling his subsequent spree, Hanley said.
Soto claimed he became “paranoid” after using the drugs, grabbed a knife from the kitchen, and attacked Jacob and his mother, Romona. He then went door-to-door throughout the neighborhood in a bloody spree that lasted 21 minutes, police said.
He allegedly attacked and killed Larson, a US Postal worker; stabbed Darlene Weber, and her son and daughter, Jacob Vollmann and Cathy Gilfillan; murdered 15-year-old Jenna Newcomb and bludgeoned her sister and friend with a baseball bat; attacked Lindsay Craig in her own home, and then Keith Fahrney, the good Samaritan who came to her aid.
He was then apprehended by police.
Soto faces 11 counts of Murder and Attempted Murder, and 2 counts of Home Invasion with a Dangerous Weapon.
By: John Clark (WTVO)
