Teacher who killed, ate teen wants freedom

Psychiatrists tell judge man still belongs in high-security mental ward

Video: Crime & courts

What really happened in the summer solstice murder?
Hear law enforcement officers describe the suspect's versions of what happened the night of Ron Baker's murder, and hear from the family and friends of the victim.

Skyscraper killing shakes tenants

In Chicago, shootings lead to blood shortage

Two more suspects sought in Florida murders

‘Ninja’ suspects sought in couple’s slaying

On the run

15 Most Wanted

The U.S. Marshals want your help finding their "15 Most Wanted" fugitives, a notorious list of suspects fleeing everything from murder and robbery to child sex charges. To date, about 200 of the fugitives profiled on the list have been found. Tips leading to an arrest are rewarded up to $25,000. Click here to see the fugitives.

Breaking news alerts (about 1 per day)
Click here to sign up or text NEWS to MSNBC (67622).

Find more alerts at alerts.msnbc.com

updated 12:55 p.m. ET June 22, 2006

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - A former teacher who admitted killing a teenager and eating parts of his body 27 years ago still belongs in a secured mental ward, two psychiatrists told a judge.

Dr. Khin Myo testified Wednesday that Albert Fentress did not currently display symptoms of major mental illness but said he cannot grasp Paul Masters’ murder, or why he sexually mutilated and cannibalized the young man.

Fentress petitioned the state Supreme Court to be released from a locked prison ward in Orange County, 50 miles north of New York City.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

He was found innocent by reason of insanity in the 1979 murder and mutilation of Masters, 18.
The middle school teacher confessed to killing Masters after the youth wandered into his yard.

Fentress lured him into the basement, tied him to a post, sexually abused and mutilated him, and shot him twice in the head before cooking and eating parts of his body.

Fentress had lived in a nonsecure psychiatric hospital in Suffolk County until 2002, when he admitted sexually abusing two young boys years before.

Myo said Fentress cannot describe that abuse or the killing. “If he can’t remember it, or talk about it, he isn’t dealing with it,” Myo said.

The psychiatrist and Dr. Muthaiah Chandrasekahara, who both evaluated Fentress, contend he suffers from sexual sadism and pedophilia.

The hearing was to resume July 6.