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    • 1991 Erie cop killer calls himself ‘god.’ Mental examination ordered
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    1991 Erie cop killer calls himself ‘god.’ Mental examination ordered

    Harry Posted on

    Michael M. Bibbs was 17 when he fatally shot Erie police officer Richard J. Burchick 33 years ago. Bibbs is accused of threatening to kill Erie police officers and a neighbor after being released from prison.

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    • Michael M. Bibbs, 51, who killed Erie police Officer Richard J. Burchick in 1991, pleaded guilty in August to threatening to kill a neighbor and several Erie police officers in April.
    • Bibbs’ sentencing was suspended because he displayed unusual behavior, including calling himself “god” and “creator” and claiming he was unaware that he had confessed to the crime.
    • Bibbs has a history of schizophrenia and the defense says his mental health has deteriorated since his incarceration, leading the judge to order a mental competency exam at the prosecutor’s request, the defense says

    Erie resident Michael M. Bibbs had served his entire 30-year prison sentence for fatally shooting Erie police Officer Richard J. Burchick in 1991 and In August, he pleaded guilty to new charges that he threatened to kill several Erie police officers and a neighbor in April.

    Bibbs’ sentencing on the new charges is pending.

    Sentencing was largely delayed because Bibbs, 51, who had a history of schizophrenia, began calling himself “god” and “the creator,” according to court records, and appeared unaware that he had confessed to the crime.

    At the request of the Erie County District Attorney’s Office and the defense, Erie County Judge David Ridge on Thursday ordered Bibbs to undergo a mental health examination to determine whether he is competent to proceed with the case.

    Bibbs speaks ‘weirdly’

    Ridge issued the order in part in response to what Bibbs said in court Monday, where he is scheduled to be sentenced.

    Appearing on a video monitor at the Erie County Jail for his sentencing, Bibbs said he wanted to retract his guilty plea. He said the police had brought new charges against him and that the police knew what he had been doing for the last 103 years of his life.

    “I spent 30 years in prison. They knew this was coming,” Bibbs said, apparently referring to the police.

    Chief Deputy District Attorney Bibbs referred to himself as “god” and “the creator” throughout the new trial, and again during Monday’s hearing when he “spoke in a strange manner consistent with schizophrenia.” Jeremy Lightner said in a motion requesting that Bibbs take a qualifying exam.

    Defense says Bibbs’ mental health has deteriorated recently

    In the motion, Lightner said he was unaware that Bibbs also pleaded guilty at a hearing before Judge Daniel Brabender in August. Brabender recused himself from the sentence because he represented Bibbs as a defense attorney in Burchick’s murder.

    The sentencing was handed down to Ridge, who said Thursday that he would delay a decision on Bibbs’ request to withdraw the guilty plea until Bibbs takes the competency exam. Bibbs’ attorney, assistant public defender Karen Klapsinos, who specializes in cases of mentally ill defendants, also wanted to take the test.

    Klapsinos agreed with the prosecution that Bibbs had become increasingly violent while in prison since his arrest in April; That’s another reason why both sides agreed to a review of Bibbs’ competency.

    “Since his incarceration, he has been off his medication and is severely decompensated,” Klapsinos told Ridge.

    Bibbs was not in court Thursday. He pleaded guilty in August to threatening to kill “multiple Erie police officers” following a confrontation with two officers outside his home in the 1200 block of East 20th Street on April 8; In this incident, he also told the police that he was a “cop killer”. ,” according to plea documents.

    Police also accused Bibbs of killing a neighbor and threatening to kill other police officers while in custody at the Erie police station. Bibbs pleaded guilty to two first-degree misdemeanor terroristic threats charges and faces a maximum of five years in state prison on each count.

    Bibbs was not yet 18 when he killed Burchick

    In Burchick’s killing, Bibbs shot the 39-year-old patrol officer following a traffic stop at East 21st Street and East Avenue shortly after 11 p.m. on Feb. 5, 1991. last Erie police officer killed in the line of duty. Bibbs was a week shy of turning 18 when the murder occurred and was tried as an adult.

    The District Attorney’s Office sought a conviction for first-degree murder, meaning premeditated murder. The defense said the shooting was an accident that occurred while Bibbs and Burchick were struggling with each other. The defense said Bibbs was “borderline on mental retardation.”

    Bibbs was convicted in October 1991 of third-degree murder, an unpremeditated murder with malicious intent.

    In November 1991, he was sentenced to 15 to 30 years in state prison. This was the maximum sentence possible at the time for the three charges he was found guilty of (third-degree murder and two counts of armed assault).

    Bibbs was never paroled. He was released from state prison on February 6, 2021.

    to contact [email protected] or 814-870-1813. Follow him on X @ETNpalattella.

    Harry
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