AURORA, Neb. (KSNB) – Caleb Arnett, an Aurora man charged with the first-degree murder of his stepfather Ross Nickolaus and other related charges, remains on a waiting list for competency restoration. This was revealed during a competency review hearing on Tuesday in Hamilton County Court, where Arnett, 29, is also accused of first-degree assault and using a deadly weapon in the stabbing of two family members.
During the hearing, Arnett’s attorney informed the court that his client is currently sixth on the waiting list for treatment at the Lincoln Regional Center (LRC) to restore his mental fitness for trial. The attorney requested a continuation of the matter, which was unopposed by the prosecution.
The need for mental fitness evaluation was initially raised by his defense in December, with the findings presented in February. Subsequently, Judge Lynelle Homolka declared Arnett unfit for trial but mandated his treatment at the LRC, pending a reevaluation of his mental status post-treatment.
Judge Homolka has scheduled the next competency review for June 4 at 8:30 a.m.
The case traces back to a distressing incident on December 2, 2023, when police were summoned to Arnett’s home following a 911 call made by a juvenile reporting “blood everywhere” and the presence of an individual with a knife. Upon arrival, officers discovered Nickolaus with fatal stab wounds to the chest in a bedroom, where he later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital. Additionally, a female victim sustained a throat cut and injuries to her back and arm, while the juvenile caller suffered a cut on his right hand requiring stitches.
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