Man from La Crosse initially declared unfit to stand trial after death of his roommate

A La Crosse man accused of killing his roommate in a trailer park has been ordered to seek treatment for an apparent mental illness.

John Stumlin was diagnosed and a local court ruled that the 55-year-old is not mentally competent at this time and cannot be tried for manslaughter in connection with Daniel Riordan.

La Crosse County Judge Ramona Gonzalez ordered inpatient drug treatment to help Stumlin regain his sanity.

He is accused of stabbing Riordan and then hiding the victim's body in the trailer park where they lived.

On Wednesday, Stumlin again failed to appear in person for his court hearing. He has repeatedly voluntarily avoided court hearings since his arrest last month.

Gonzalez said Stumlin had shown symptoms of psychosis. She agreed with a prosecutor that Stumlin should be given medication so his trial could proceed.

Stumlin remains in the La Crosse County Jail on $1 million bail.