A judge has ordered a competency evaluation for the woman accused of stabbing Denver’s top firefighter in a January attack downtown.
Prosecutors say Marlene Zacevich-Rodriguez, 42, will head to the Colorado Mental Health Institute in Pueblo, where doctors will determine whether she is fit to stand trial.
“This process takes a while to complete with the evaluations and findings report,” said Maro Casparian, a spokeswoman for the Denver District Attorney’s Office.
Casparian said the evaluation was ordered following the request of Zacevich-Rodriguez’s attorneys.
Zacevich-Rodriguez faces charges of attempted second-degree murder and first-degree assault in the case.
Authorities say Zacevich-Rodriguez climbed into the passenger seat of Fire Chief Eric Tade’s vehicle and stabbed him with a knife. Tade quickly recovered from his wounds and returned to work the next day.
Officials say the attack appears to have been random and unprovoked.
Zacevich-Rodriguez is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail. She is next due in court May 16.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or @JesseAPaul
