WELLINGTON, Kan. – A Wellington mother accused of brutally murdering her 10-year-old son, made an appearance in court Thursday regarding her competency.
Lindsey Nicole Blansett is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her son, Caleb, in December of 2014. She has been awaiting a mental evaluation at Larned State Hospital. A motion was filed on January 8 for Blansett’s mental evaluation, but that evaluation has not yet taken place.
“They do not yet have bed space available for her,” said Sumner County Attorney, Kerwin Spencer. “She’s on the waiting list.”
The county attorney hopes that, because of the severity of the crime, Blansett will be moved up on the waiting list, in an effort to complete her mental evaluation sooner.
“If they don’t give her case any priority, it’ll be at least 45 days [before she is sent to Larned],” said Spencer. “I would think that her case would take some precedent over say, a burglary case.”
Until Blansett is sent to Larned, she will remain behind bars in the Sumner Co. Jail.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for March 26 at 1:30 p.m.
KSN reached out to officials with the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, or KDADS.
Officials tell KSN that they are aware of Blansett’s case and that she will be sent to Larned “as soon as possible.” The hope is Blansett will be admitted within three weeks.
Larned reportedly has 200 beds. 180 of them are for men, but only 20 are designated for women. With so few beds, Blansett will have to wait for the hospital to evaluate those individuals before she can be seen.
KSNW TV – By Brittany Glas